The White Mountains of NH - Home

Cabins on Harvey's Lake Condominiums now for sale in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont

2012-09-18T15:00:39Z

We are so pleased to offer the Cabins on Harvey’s Lake Condominiums now for sale in the beautiful Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. And this is the time to buy, with some special pricing initiatives in place!

The owner of this wonderful place is Michael Vereline, who for the past 23 years has been a partner and co-owner of Harvey’s Lake Cabins and Campground. He now owns 100% of this wonderful 39-acre lakefront property on Harvey’s Lake in West Barnet, Vermont, and has received approval from the State of Vermont to develop it as a seasonal condominium home association.

The special introductory pricing of $179,000 to $225,000 reflects a savings of $20,000 to $26,000 from the list prices for the nine existing handcrafted cabins. Buyers are able to choose from a variety of one, two and three bedroom seasonal cabins! In additional, Mike said there are also nine building sites available, where people can design and have built the lakefront cabin they envision.

Mike is not new to this type of development, as he has also developed condominium associations in the Florida Keys and at The Greens at Hanover, an independent senior living community in Hanover, New Hampshire.

In addition to its extensive common water frontage, the property also features dozens of communal acres of woods, fields and trails for all cabin owners to enjoy – and they are beautiful!

To learn more visit http://harveyslakecabins.com/sale/. Interested buyers may contact us today!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Diane Johnson Achieves CBR Designation

2012-09-11T11:20:58Z

Diane Johnson, one of our agents here at the Littleton office, recently completed the Certified Buyer Representative program. And of course in Real Estate, like other professionals, we have lots of initials! Certified Buyer Representative is “CBR®”.

With this designation Diane is now formally trained in the professional representation of home purchasers. A “Buyer Representative” is a cooperating agent who legally represents the real estate buyer. Generally, it happens under a buyer representation agreement, much like a traditional real estate broker represents the seller under a listing agreement. The buyer agent’s role is to be the advocate for the purchaser in the real estate transaction and Diane completed three days of extensive training to earn the designation.

As always, we are so proud of Diane and all of our agents who work to stay on the forefront of the real estate market. They continue to exceed expectations in order to make our clients experience with them the very best it can be through her market knowledge and education.

Congratulations Diane!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Congratulations to M&W Homes of Plymouth

2012-06-22T14:51:10Z

I wrote a while back about this wonderful energy efficient new home in Plymouth NH that is currently on the market – this is a 5 Star Energy Rated home. And now, the builders of this fine home – M & W Homes of Plymouth are the recipients of two Cornerstone Awards from the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of NH (HBRANH)! Mary Wright and Clifford Mask received the Gold Cornerstone Award in the category of: Residential Interior Design – Living Room.

In addition, they won a Silver in: Single Family Detached Home under $500,000! Congratulations to Mary & Clifford for this well deserved honor. Now, to see this fine home in person, and to learn how you could own this 5 Star Energy Rated home in Central NH, give our Plymouth office a call at 603-238-6990 and they can help you!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

5 Star Energy Rated Home for Sale in Plymouth NH

2012-05-21T17:16:41Z

Our Plymouth office has a brand new custom home for sale, and there are many wonderful features, but one is the fact that the home is a 5 Star Energy Rated home. This home for sale is located in Plymouth, NH and was built to meet the 5 star guidelines set up by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

M&W Homes of Plymouth built and created this spectacular three bedroom, 4 bath Craftsman style home and their attention to details is evident in every part of the home. I had the pleasure of meeting Clifford Mask, (the “M” of M&W) and what a pleasure). It’s always wonderful to meet someone who is passionate about their work and their creation – and Clifford truly is. It's evident he and his partner put a lot of thought into the home, how it should work and most important – how it would function for the buyer of the home.

There is a wonderful open concept kitchen and dining area – a wonderful gathering place at the heart of the home. And if first floor living is your desire, you can do that in this home, as there is a master suite on the first level. Upstairs, two more bedrooms, an office/nursery area and another bath.

Just minutes to downtown Plymouth, you’ll save on fuel for the car too! This is a spectacular home located in Plymouth NH – not far from Plymouth State University, downtown Plymouth, Newfound Lake and the Lakes Region of NH.

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Open House in Woodstock, NH this weekend

2012-05-17T12:18:09Z

One of our Plymouth NH agents, Leila Tarantelli is holding an open house at a condo we have for sale located in Woodstock NH this weekend (Saturday, May 19th from 3-5 pm). The Lincoln/Woodstock NH area is a great area to live, work and play! Located near Loon Mountain, the town is full of a great history as an old “mill” town that now hosts a tremendous amount of weekend visitors and homeowners alike who come to the area to recreate, relax, dine and more. I had the pleasure of working in the Lincoln area for years, and it was so much fun! The variety of restaurants, including the fabulous Woodstock Inn, Station & Brewery, the Indian Head Resort and much more. It’s a great place to live and visit, whether its for a weekend or long term.

Oh, and did I mention the trained bears! You can spot the beautiful bears at Clark’s Trading Post as they sit up on the posts and ramble around for all to see. The bear show at Clark’s Trading Post is the best, and now they even ride a Segway! Oh, and the Whale’s Tale Waterpark – voted New England’s Best Waterpark! So, take a trip to Woodstock NH this weekend, and while your there, come see this great condo that you can own!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Nikki Gwynn-Barrett Returns to Peabody & Smith Realty

2012-05-16T06:27:24Z

Our offices are thrilled with excitement as we were able to welcome back to the Peabody & Smith family – Nikki Gwynn-Barrett. Nikki joined Peabody & Smith back after she graduated from Plymouth State University a decade ago! She worked at that time as an administrative assistant in our Franconia office, and was instrumental in helping set up many of our other locations during that time. She always had a smile on her face, and after many years with the firm, she relocated two hours north of here (I know, you think we are already far north…but really, there is more!) to Colebrook NH to join her, at that time, fiancee, Tobi Barrett. She and Tobi married almost two years ago, and now have decided to relocate back to the greater Littleton area.

So, we are so happy to welcome Nikki back to the Littleton office as a Sales Associate. During her time in Colebrook, Nikki never left real estate, as she had joined a firm there as a Sales Associate and found good success.

Nikki is not a stranger to Littleton, as she grew up here and much of her family remains in the area. She is a great cook, and has been really enjoying her Wolfgang Puck griddle/panini grill and shares with us some great recipes at lunch time. Nikki also enjoys kayaking in the area waterways and is a devout Red Sox fan, really don’t even mention the Yankees around her!

So welcome back Nikki, we are excited to have you back in the North Country real estate market, where you are ready to help sellers, assist buyers and bring your smiles back to our office!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Smooch in Littleton Now Has New Owners!

2012-05-14T16:49:48Z

Well it was a great Mother’s Day on Sunday, and I got to visit the Main Street of Littleton and peruse some of my favorite stores with my family.

We had the pleasure of eating at Smooch, a café & smoothie bar, which is now under new ownership and open for the upcoming summer season.

Peabody & Smith Realty recently had the pleasure in assisting with the sale of Smooch. Smooch had been successfully owned and operated by Emshika Alberini. Emshika was already running a successful downtown restaurant Chang Thai, when she opened Smooch a couple of years ago – but she was ready to return the focus to her anchor restaurant, Chang Thai.

Smooch is now owned by Scott & Jody Oliver of Monroe, NH and what great service we received yesterday! They had a couple of wraps on the menu, they were delicious and the ice cream – wow! Creamy, rich and great choice of flavors. Also, with a three year old in tow, I appreciated the play area in the back…so we could enjoy our ice cream while our little one played with the puzzles, games and other goodies.

The Oliver’s are planning to expand the menu to include more lunch items such as sandwiches, baked goods and more.

We have to give some kudos to our commercial team for helping the Alberini’s and the Oliver’s. Our Commercial Sales Associate Kim Lavoie represented the Alberini’s, and Broker Associate Mary Doherty assisted the Oliver’s. Kim and Mary both love a good sandwich and baked good…and I’m sure I’ll see them at Smooch soon! Also, a big congrats to Emshika for coming up with the idea of Smooch and executing it, and congrats to the Oliver’s, who know how to scoop a great cone and more!!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Mary O'Toole Completes Loss Mitigation Certification Course

2012-05-08T17:03:33Z

Our Peabody & Smith agents always astound me! With their commitment to the real estate profession, the dedication to the clients and customers and more! I thought of this today as I was sending out a press release to the area news outlets regarding one of our agents – Mary O’Toole. Mary just completed a course called, “Loss Mitigation Certification.” As I read some information about the class, I was able to see that the course is designed to help agents with many of the facets they need to know when handling short sales. (As an aside, in the real estate industry, we’ve been throwing around the term Short Sale for years – but sometimes forget that not everyone knows what this means – it means you owe the bank more for the property than you can sell it for, and you come “up short” at the closing table. Sort of like having $100 worth of groceries at the store and only $75 to pay for them.)

So Mary has come back from this course with an even stronger understanding of how to help a seller who may be facing a short sale, and how to assist buyers who may be interested in purchasing a short sale property. To learn more about buying a “short sale”, our friend Steve Harney wrote a great blog post today at KCMBlog on this, called, “Are You a Buyer Looking to Purchase a Short Sale.”

Great job Mary, and thanks for all you do to enhance your knowledge for your clients and customers! We appreciate all you do!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Historic Bethlehem, NH Home on the Market and Ready for You!

2012-05-07T11:27:58Z

At our Franconia NH office, we have a great agent named Charlie Crannell, and Charlie loves history and historic homes. Whenever we have a great historic area home on the market, Charlie does a great job explaining the history of a property. A great example of this, is this historic home in Bethlehem NH that we have for sale.

This home was part an original Maplewood Hotel Cottage, number 14. The Maplewood Golf Club and Inn is still operational, but the term cottage is deceiving! This cottage is a year round home with three large bedrooms, spacious closets and there is also a one bedroom guest cottage with solid rental history. This home was completely renovated and is a true gem of the Bethlehem area! To see more about all the amenities and features of this great home, click here!

Bethlehem NH used to be the Vacation capital of the Northeast, with seven trains a day bringing in guests, later it became also known as an area to summer and escape Hay Fever, in fact, the “Hay Fever Relief Association” was founded in Bethlehem! For more information on the Bethlehem’s history, you can stop by the Bethlehem Heritage Society, next time you are in town. They love visitors and it’s a great spot to check out. Their chamber also has a great website, to tell you more about the history of this town.

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Peabody & Smith Welcomes Leila Tarantelli to the Plymouth NH office!

2012-04-26T17:23:13Z

We are thrilled to welcome Leila Tarantelli to our Plymouth NH office. And when we first met Leila, we loved that in her email, she let us know how to pronounce her name! In case you are wondering, its “Lee-La!” And now we know!

The real estate market is growing and expanding in the Central and Lakes Region area of New Hampshire, and this is where we are expanding our Plymouth office with the addition of Leila. Leila is joining us as a Sales Associate. She will work on helping folks who may be interested in selling their home, buying a special piece of land, or acquiring a great condo near Loon Mountain – right in Leila’s backyard!

Leila joins us after a successful career in the IT industry where she worked successfully to help customers design and build data centers around the world for the last 15 years. Leila told us that she has dabbled in real estate most of my life buying and selling properties after investing a considerable amount of sweat equity. (And I can account for that, because I’ve seen her at the local hardware store on more than one occasion!) We are pleased that she decided to couple her love of real estate and her skills in business, sales, negotiation and customer advocacy and come on board with our firm, at our Plymouth NH office.

Welcome aboard, Leila!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

What a House in Franconia NH

2012-04-05T11:54:53Z

I had the recent pleasure of visiting this great house we have for sale in Franconia NH the other day, and what a pleasure it was.

It’s not everyday that you get to see antiques that have been repurposed and giving new life, and what a thrill to see that! This custom built home, is located on Old County Road in Franconia, NH. This is one of the sought after neighborhoods in the area. But in this home, the owners had such great stories to tell of how they cleaned all of the door knobs that were in the house, antique doorknobs that they picked up locally in Littleton at Admac Salvage. In fact, many of the fixtures came from Admac – antique marble sinks, bureaus that have repurposed into vanities, a clawfoot tub and much more! Truly was such a thrill to see these great antiques that you see on the shelves at the salvage store re-done into an amazing home. The home was custom built in 2004, and the quality and details of this home are just amazing! And I haven’t even gotten to the Carriage House – it has this great open space for an artist/photography studio, antique cars, workshop, writer’s haven…the possibilities are endless. And at the Carriage House, you’ll not only find this great spacious area, but a one bedroom studio apartment, what a great spot as an in-law apartment, space for overflow company, or the college graduate who returns home for a while – ok, you may not want the space for that…but you never know!

I must admit, as an avid watcher of This Old House on New Hampshire Public Television, this house reminds me of the recent house they completed where they put an addition on an antique home, and they put on pantry doors that resembled barn doors. I always appreciate how craftsmen can repurpose items of yesteryear into something for “now.” And this house in Franconia, has lots of beautiful features and fixtures that reminds me of a house you would see created on This Old House – however, its not an antique – so you get a build of today, with features of yesterday! Which reminds me, the workshop over at the Carriage House must be similar to what Norm Abrams and his associates on the New Yankee Workshop are used to! But if you buy this house, you can use that space any way you want – whether you are a woodworker, artist, antique car collector, or you just have a lot of equipment that needs a nice warm home!

So, we invite you to come see this newer Cape Cod Style home with 4 bedrooms and more on Old County Road in Franconia, and you’ll appreciate how the owners are ready to take their labor of love, and turn it over to you for your enjoyment! And let me add this caveat, you could not replicate this home for even close to what its selling for. Come check it out!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Peabody & Smith Realty Nominated for Major Awards from Leading Real Estate Companies of the World

2012-03-09T17:33:11Z

Wow! We are thrilled to learn that we have been nominated three major awards from Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. Among the awards that we are nominated for are the Award of Excellence, the Leading RE Institute Outstanding Participation Award, and the coveted Diamond Award. These awards will be presented at the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World 2012 Annual Conference in Florida later this month. We are proud we’ve been nominated for the Diamond Award before, and while we didn’t win…it really was great just to be nominated!

We are one of only 26 firms out of the over 550 total firms of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World to be nominated for the coveted Diamond Award, which is the highest award that a firm can be awarded at the conference.

We congratulate all the other nominees in our LeadingRE family and wish them all the best!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Kim Lavoie Joins Peabody & Smith Realty

2012-02-16T17:05:45Z

We have added to our Commercial team at the Franconia office, with the addition of Kim Lavoie as a Commercial Sales Associate.

As all of our commercial agents do, Kim will focus on selling commercial properties, large multi-family buildings, leasing of commercial business space and business brokerage services. She joins Mary Doherty & Andy Smith, our other full time commercial “geeks” as we affectionately call them at the office.

As far as commercial sales are concerned, the commercial real estate market here in Central & Northern NH has been very active as of late. We are finding that confidence is starting to return, and business owners are getting ready to expand and grow into new space.

Kim moved to the White Mountains area eight years ago, relocating from the seacoast of NH. She has owned and operated a variety of multi-family homes for over fifteen years. As her friends know, Kim is a great cook and entertainer, and she earned multiple degrees in hospitality from Johnson & Wales University.

She is soon to be a member of the New Hampshire Commercial & Investment Board of Realtors (NHCIBOR) and is pursuing her Vermont Real Estate license. Kim lives in the great small town of Landaff, NH where she resides with her husband and children and serves as an active volunteer in the area schools and as a Trustee of the Trust Funds for the town. And if you are ever on a showing with her, ask her for her homemade pasta recipe – the area kids won’t eat “boxed” pasta anymore after the homemade stuff!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

First Snow of the Season

2011-10-28T13:49:58Z

Well, it’s finally happened! We have our first snow of the season last evening/this morning with more in the forecast for the weekend! The seasons in New Hampshire are wonderful, and when the foliage finishes, I love the change over to winter (and I will say, by March, I’m ready for spring!) However, the first snow is one I love to see, as well as our children! I had a nine year old outside this morning creating this mini-snowman near her pumpkin. And her little sister watching from the wings, waiting to be old enough to go out too!

We found our winter clothes this morning, the boots, hats, mittens and more and we’re ready to go! Soon, all of us who love winter will be ready for skiing at Bretton Woods or Cannon Mtn, snowmobiling through the state of NH, snowshoeing, or perhaps staying inside your home watching the snow fall! Whatever your season or sport, enjoy it!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Lighting of the Jack O Lanters on the River Sunday Night

2011-10-25T21:20:00Z

It's always great when there is a wonderful event in the North Country, and its especially exciting when new ones are created! It’s the “Gathering of the Jack O’Lanterns” on the Ammonoosuc River coming up this Sunday evening, October 30th at 6 p.m.

Our Littleton office at 11 Riverglen Lane is located near the river bank, and we are so pleased that our neighbors at Littleton Bike & Fitness have come up with the great idea, and are working in tandem with the Littleton Area Chamber of Commerce to organize and promote the event. Here’s the scooop – Littleton Bike & Fitness is collecting carved Jack O’Lanterns on Saturday and Sunday (10/29 and 10/30), and on Sunday evening, they are going out on to the Ammonoosuc River and placing the Jack O’Lanterns on the flat rocks in the river and lighting them! It should be a beautiful scene in the evening, in the river, and just behind the historic Main Street (as an aside, this video shows some of the Main Street and some about the Piano Project and the Weathervane Theatre.) There should be some great opportunities to take photos from the Cottage Street bridge, Riverglen Lane and the Covered Bridge that leads up to Main Street near Miller’s Fare Café & Bakery. Dave Harkless, the owner of Littleton Bike & Fitness, is always a thought leader – and promoter of great ideas – thanks for coming up with this Dave!.

So far, there is one pumpkin already on a large tree stump in the river…just waiting for his friends! For more information call Dave Harkless at 603-616-6335 or send him an email at info@littletonbike.com. We’ll post more photos as we get them next week! And remember, you can drop off your pumpkin on Saturday and Sunday. Littleton Bike & Fitness is located on Cottage Street in Littleton.

See you Sunday, and please feel free to park in our parking lot (11 Riverglen Lane) and take the short walk down to the river! We look forward to seeing you!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Doug Caulfield Joins Peabody & Smith Realty

2011-10-14T09:47:44Z

All of us at Peabody & Smith Realty are pleased to welcome Doug Caulfield to our dedicated team of agents!

With a background in the arts, and time spent as a home renovator, he is a welcome addition to our offices. Currently Doug is working out of our Littleton office, where he has been working with his mentor, Diane Johnson.

Doug is not a stranger to the area, as he has spent the last fourteen years here in the North Country, where his last professional endeavor was owner of a local art gallery in Sugar Hill, the Bowen Brook Art Center. Doug grew up in New England and graduated from Syracuse & Central Connecticut State Universities before heading to the Pacific Northwest where he began his real estate career. We are familiar with Doug, as he has purchased and renovated a number of area homes.

Here at Peabody & Smith, we have a strong mentoring program for new agents. Diane has been mentoring Doug, so he has really gotten to see how the real estate process works from inquiries, to listings, offers, contracts and closings. Doug is licensed here in New Hampshire, but he also passed his Vermont Real Estate exam also, so he’ll be able to help clients and customers in both states.

With three kids, and a busy career, Doug is busy – however in his spare time, he serves on the Board of Directors of The Children’s House in Littleton – a wonderful Montessori preschool. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and they enjoy hiking and other activities of the area. Sometimes you can find Doug out on the area golf courses too!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Angela Knapp Joins Peabody & Smith Realty

2011-10-04T17:32:00Z

We are pleased to have this opportunity to finally announce that Angela Knapp has joined our team at Peabody & Smith Realty. For many in the North Country and Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, Angela is a familiar face, as you may have seen her in your home, or one of your friends home! Angela has spent over a decade entering people’s home as a successful Independent Cooking Consultant & Sales Trainer for The Pampered Chef®. Angela is now a Sales Associate here at Peabody & Smith Realty.

So far, Angela has been a great asset to our firm. Since obtaining her real estate license in the spring, she spent the summer working diligently with her mentor Joy Moore in our Littleton office. We know that with Joy’s help, and her abilities, she really understands the local real estate market and all that it takes to get a home sold.

Angela is at our Littleton office, located at 11 Riverglen Lane and she will continue to work for the sales company of The Pampered Chef® - so you may see her around at a Pampered Chef party. And I must say, we had a potluck this summer and Angela came with a couple great dishes she made using her Pampered Chef® tools! It was impressive to say the least!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Main Street Plymouth NH Bakery Sold!

2011-04-18T14:21:22Z

A fixture on the corner of Plymouth’s Main Street recently transferred ownership with the sale of Main Street Bakery to Christina LeBlanc. Andy Smith of Peabody & Smith Realty was able to assist Christina realize her dream!

In terms of the bakery, Christina has some great ideas including pushing the counters back to allow for more seating. She will keep selling all the things customers are used to (like those great donuts!), but expand and add even more tasty options. LeBlanc is hoping to capture the crowd that doesn’t want to run off with their coffee but perhaps would like to sit and have a cup, chat with a friend, and maybe utilize the WIFI. In addition, Christina said they currently offer sandwiches and soup, and will continue to do that, with some additional offerings, including desserts and gluten-free products.

For Christina, this is a dream that has turned into a reality. She credits many folks for all the help, including and especially her husband John, daughter Reagan, Kristen and her current and former staff: Jane, Mary, Carolyn, Alex, Mike, Jocelyn, CMae, Esther and Rebekah.

All of us at Peabody & Smith Realty congratulate Christina on her new venture. And we can attest, we purchased some donuts and pastries for a staff meeting at our Plymouth office recently from Christina, and they were fantastic!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Welcome Kinsley Gibson!

2011-03-10T15:36:58Z

With an ever expanding presence in the Bretton Woods Real Estate market with both real estate sales and rentals, we have recently added to our Bretton Woods team with the addition of Kinsley Gibson. Kinsley will work as an Administrative Assistant for Sales & Rentals and we are thrilled to welcome her aboard.

Kinsley will be based in the Bretton Woods office, and she will be working directly with the agents there, Michele & Terry Penner and Steve Gorman.

She is a graduate of Mount Ida College with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. As a long time resident of Monroe, NH, Kinsley has a passion for assisting others and has been providing customer service with a smile! In addition, Kinsley is managing our Peabody & Smith Rentals page on Facebook, and we invite folks to connect with us there also.

In her spare time, Gibson enjoys the great outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Our Bretton Woods office is located at the Bretton Woods Ski Area entrance. Stop by anytime and learn about the Bretton Woods Real Estate market, Bretton Woods Vacation Rentals and more!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Congrats to the Plymouth New Hampshire office

2011-03-04T15:05:52Z

Congratulations to Sue Sampson, Carmen Burns, Jerrod Mitchell and Missy Sullivan in our Plymouth New Hampshire office. The office recently ended the 2010 sales year with a 50% increase in real estate sales over 2009. We opened that office in early 2009 at 85 Main Street and are thrilled to have expanded into the Central NH real estate market in such a positive way.

These four agents are all full-time, and experienced! With a quick look at statistics, the Plymouth New Hampshire real estate market in quite strong. According to data from the Northern New England Real Estate Network, the 2010 average sales price in Plymouth was $146,530 and average days on market was 112.

Way to go Peabody & Smith Plymouth Team! We are proud of you!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Current Real Estate Statistics for Grafton & Coos Counties in NH

2010-12-10T00:00:00Z

All in all, the real estate market this year has improved and we are optimistic for 2011. In real estate, there is a saying that “all real estate is local”. While the national headlines talk about the real estate market as a whole, it’s a lot like the weather – you see different weather scenarios all over the country, but what you really want is the forecast in your area. Currently we are seeing modest increases in the number of homes sold in Grafton County, and we notice an increase in the average sales price. While the days a house was on the market has increased a bit in both Coos and Grafton, but really not by a huge degree. Homes that come onto the market priced correctly are finding new owners. Click here to view/download/print our December Buyers Guide.

Consumer confidence appears to have increased, given the rousing reports from “Black Friday and Cyber Monday!” According to CNN, NPD Group which is a market research firm said, “33% of consumers bought items for themselves – a good sign that Americans are feeling more comfortable about spending.”

Many people speak about the luxury market, and say that when the luxury market comes back the rest will follow. So far in Grafton and Coos counties, 12 homes have sold over a million dollars this year, which is the most we’ve seen in a few years. This too bodes well for the rest of the market.

(Click to Enlarge)

When looking at the national forecast, and reports, it’s easy to feel a bit afraid of the future. High unemployment rates, various economic reports and the like can be disconcerting. However, when we look at the State of New Hampshire, we realize the unemployment rate for October 2010 was a low 5.4%, while in October 2009 it was 6.8%. Nationally, it’s a 9% unemployment rate. While it’s important to be aware of what happens nationally, it too is important to understand the local data, and the local economic news. New Hampshire continues to shows signs that it is in the midst of an early and strong recovery.

While we have just finished Thanksgiving, I think we all realize there is so much to be thankful for. No longer are we measuring happiness by the material items we possess, but rather it has been a “return to basics” the last few years. A time where more people have dinner around the dining room table, have a “game night” with the kids, and all in all are thankful for the little things that really make up the big components of our life. It’s no longer about the car you drive, how many houses you have, and how often you go on vacation. It’s about the memories you create in your life, that’s what we all remember, the little things.

On that note, these days folks are purchasing homes they can comfortably afford, and are enjoying some “sweat equity”. As we have been saying this of course is a great time to buy if you have the ability. Interest rates are low, which mean you can afford more house now than ever before, as rates haven’t been this low in 50 years. In addition, selection is great so you can take your pick and prices are reduced compared to five years ago. But most of all, a house or land is an investment in your life. Not the kind of investment that you plan to retire on, but rather a place where you gather with your friends, your family, and share what you are thankful for.

We thank all of you for allowing us to assist you with your real estate needs. All real estate is local, so if you are looking for current market statistics and more, feel free to call us. We are happy to help.

Have a lovely season, and here’s to 2011!

Posted by: Andrew Smith

ARC Mechanical Contractors Opens Office in Littleton with help from our Commercial Team

2010-10-22T14:57:33Z

Congratulations to ARC Mechanical Contractors of Bradford VT. They recently opened a satellite office in Littleton NH, just under Littleton Bike and Fitness pan>on Cottage Street. From our Littleton office, they are our new neighbors! One of our commercial brokers, Mary Doherty, assisted ARC Mechanical in finding the space, and handled the leasing for our client, Littleton Bike and Fitness. ARC Mechanical will occupy a nice space at the back of the building with a large garage bay, office, work space and large parking area. They will also be near the addition of the Littleton RiverWalk which is undergoing the final construction phase this fall. As I write this, an excavator is outside my window tearing up pavement and more. For ARC, the area will be busy with folks using the RiverWalk and more, so a nice visible location for them, and for Littleton Bike and Fitness. Welcome to the neighborhood ARC Mechanical, we are thrilled to have you!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Littleton NH Parking Meters use New Technology

2010-10-14T13:33:07Z

It’s so rare that I carry change on me, or even in the car, and quite often I struggle trying to find some when I need to feed a parking meter! Now in Littleton, you can look for change if you want, or you can use a little pre-paid parking card that you slide in the meter like a credit card. Very handy. I applaud the town and the Littleton Police Department for making this little video featuring some of our local business folks explaining it.

The video features Carrie Gendreau from Emma & Company, Art Tighe from The Foto Factory, Dan Soloman from Northern Lights Music and Gretchen Harvey from Aylakai. They did a great job with the folks at Littleton Channel 2. So next time you are in downtown Littleton, pick up a “park card” and shop away!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Sue Sampson Named Managing Broker of Peabody & Smith Realty Plymouth Office

2010-10-07T15:16:58Z

Congratulations Sue Sampson! Not only did she just compete as a team member on a Reach the Beach team, completing 209 miles and raising over $5,000 for local charity, “Keeping You Me and Memories Alive”, she has just been named the Managing Broker of our Plymouth office located at 85 Main Street.

While training for her long distance run with the rest of her teammates, Sue studied and successfully passed the New Hampshire Broker exam! Sue has been working in the real estate industry for five years, including the last year and a half with us. Before starting a new career in real estate, Sue worked as an educator serving 32 years in the Plymouth area as a high school health and physical education teacher.

The Reach the Beach race involves running in a relay race from Franconia Notch to Hampton Beach at the seacoast of NH. 209 miles, all day, all night! It’s an amazing race, and we were lucky enough to see Sue’s fellow racers starting in Franconia, then they passed through Bretton Woods, where we got to see Sue again! Congrats to Sue, for both accomplishments!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Large House for Sale Near Rattlesnake Mountain in Rumney NH

2010-10-01T15:53:09Z

The Central and Lakes Region area of New Hampshire are just beautiful with lakes, mountains and more. In the town of Rumney, this small town population 1433 features the lovely Stinson Lake, but also these world famous rock climbing walls at Rattlesnake Mountain.

Near the climbing walls, we have this great home for sale which would be ideal also for a group of rockclimbers or people interested in catering to the local rock climbers! This home is at the heart of Rumney at 404 Main St.

This stately home offers an enormous amount of space (5000 SF) inside and the property in the Village is very close to the climbing walls. The home is full of opportunity because of it’s size! This would be a perfect for a possible Climbers Hostel or a Climbers B&B! Current price is $399K, but these are motivated sellers, and the price may change. To learn more about this great home, visit here, or give our Plymouth office a call at 603-238-6990, they would love to show it to you!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Welcome Jerrod Mitchell to Our Plymouth NH office

2010-09-14T00:00:00Z

We are thrilled to announce the addition of Jerrod Mitchell to our Plymouth office! Jerrod has over six years of real estate experience and he is joining our Plymouth NH Main Street office.

Jerrod used to live in Boston, MA and previously worked at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. Most recently, he was working with McLane Realty in Plymouth. We are so thrilled to have him, as this was a mutual agreement between the owners of McLane Realty, Doug & Sue, and Peabody & Smith.

I asked Jerrod why he likes real estate and he said, “I love real estate, and I know it sounds corny, but I truly love what I do. This is my calling. I enjoy meeting people, interacting with people, and overall helping clients and customers.” I actually wrote it down so I could quote him later! Mitchell grew up in the Keene area, attended Plymouth State University, and then moved to Boston. Longing for a higher quality of life than the city could afford, Mitchell and his wife Meredith moved back to the Plymouth area where they settled in Holderness, where they reside with their two children.

Welcome aboard Jerrod, we are pleased to have you on our team!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Peabody & Smith Realty Starts Using Bar Code Technology To Give Consumers Information Fast!

2010-08-09T00:00:00Z

By the year 2013, researchers at Gartner Predicts estimate that “mobile phones will overtake PCs as the most common Web access device worldwide.” For this reason we have begun using Quick Response (QR) codes on our signs for consumers to use to instantly access property information.

These QR codes are similar to a bar code, and a consumer with a web enabled smartphone can easily scan the code using a QR code reader and immediately receive information about the home or land they are looking at.

Okay, I admit, they look a bit funny on our signs, and we’ve had some curious looks when we put them up, but when we heard about this technology in the late fall, we did some research and began creating them for the properties we represent. We have begun placing them on our real estate signs, in areas that have cell phone coverage, which in this area, is not everywhere!

Now, if a consumer is driving by one of our properties for sale, they can stop, scan the code and instantly be taken to the property listing on our website. They can find out how many bedrooms, bathrooms, price of the home, download a listing sheet and more.

Each week, I’ve been bringing in magazine ads and catalogs that have a QR code in them to show our agents and staff. These codes are becoming more commonplace, and one of our agents was in New York City last week, and said she saw the codes everywhere!

Our goal and our reputation is based on the ability to sell property, and this is yet another tool to enable us to get information quickly to the consumer in an effort to get the property sold. So far, I haven’t heard of any other firm in NH or VT using this technology, and I believe we’re among only a few in the country using these.

To learn more about QR codes, feel free to give me a call. I would love to share the little bit I know, as I really believe these can be used by many businesses to promote their products and services.

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

A New Furniture Store Coming to Woodsville NH

2010-07-06T09:20:54Z

Soon in Woodsville, NH a new furniture store will be part of their downtown area, as Modern Furniture and Bedding purchased the former Riverview Market property on Central Street Wednesday.

Modern Furniture & Bedding has locations in Newport and Lyndonville VT, and they are owned by two brothers, Dwight and Steve Abbott. They have over 25 years of experience in the furniture business and are excited about their new location.

Modern Furniture carries a number of product lines including: Serta, Tempur-Pedic, Ashley, and many more. The property was built in the mid 1980’s, has 7,700 square feet and plenty of on-site parking.

One of our commercial agents, Steve Horan represented the seller and assisted the Abbott’s in this transaction. Our dedicated Commercial Department is comprised of four broker/sales associates. They work out of our Franconia, NH office and focus on the sale and lease of commercial properties throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. In addition, they specialize in business brokerage throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. If you ever need their services, feel free to give them a call!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Tom Carstens Joins Peabody & Smith Realty

2010-06-21T16:20:51Z

We are so pleased to welcome Tom Carstens to the Peabody & Smith Realty team. For almost a decade, Tom has been involved in the local real estate market as a Sales Associate, and is now bringing his experience to us. He will be working out of our Littleton office located at 11 Riverglen Lane.

Tom earned his New Hampshire Real Estate license in 2001, after moving to the area from Minnesota to be closer to his son and granddaughter. He originally hails from the midwest, and worked as an engineer and operations manager in the food and beverage industry.

Tom and I had lunch together today and we talked about what he likes about real estate. “What’s your favorite part of real estate Tom?” I said. He answered, “I have a sweet spot for selling and showing land parcels. I enjoy taking customers onto the land, showing them around and giving them ideas of where a house could be placed.” Its always fun to ask someone what they like and watch their face light up! Tom went on to explain how he was the general contractor in the building of his own log home a decade ago in Littleton and how he cares for his seven acres of land the home it sited on. Great lunchtime conversation.

In the winter, Tom can be found working as a handler for his son Matt Carstens at sled dog races from Minnesota, to Maine and Quebec!

Tom is a great addition to our team of agents. Like everyone at Peabody & Smith, he knows the area, he understands the real estate market, and he is a great resource for sellers and buyers. And if you have questions on how to build a log home, he’s your guy!

___________________________________________________________________________________

Chrissy Smith

Marketing Director

11 Riverglen Lane, Suite 200

Littleton NH 03561

Work: 603-444-1294 Cell: 603-903-3421

Direct Line: 603-259-1517

Fax: 603-444-2517 E-mail:

www.peabodysmith.com

Members of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World ® & Luxury Portfolio® Fine Property Collection.

If you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell a home anywhere in the U.S. or the World, we can help. We are members of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. We would be honored to work with your friends and family.

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Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Current Spring Market Data for the Greater Littleton NH, Plymouth NH and St. Johsnbury VT Real Estate Markets

2010-06-10T20:31:00Z

As summer begins, the trees have budded and it definitely feels like a time of renewal. A time of growth for the trees and for the real estate market too. In our travels, all of us are asked the timeless question, “How is the real estate market?”. For some, they expect an answer filled with despair and angst. However, as you can see from these charts, we are seeing more hopeful signs of market stabilization. While the “First Time Home Buyer and Move Up Home Buyer” tax credits have expired, the market continues to improve over last year.

In terms of county statistics, Caledonia, Grafton and Coos counties have all seen improvements in the average selling price year over year, as well as the number of homes sold. Essex still has numbers similar to last year, but they have had more homes sold, which is encouraging.

As we look at the towns in our service area, these totals show much improvement over the same time the year before with 44% more homes sold, average selling price up 43.5% and days on market just up slightly. We also have seen an increase in our luxury market with four homes sold over 1 million dollars recently, and several more under contract.

What does the future hold? The feds have held interest notes down much longer than anticipated. Most industry experts are now saying rates will start to rise in the fourth quarter. For now with rates still historically low, attractive prices for home buyers, and affordability indexes favorable, buyers will continue to purchase homes and land in Central and Northern New Hampshire and the Green Mountains of Vermont. With our low crime rates, quality of life opportunities, this truly is a great area to live in, and we know more people will continue to pursue their dreams of living here.

Posted by:Andrew Smith

Small towns in Northern NH, Central NH and Northeast Kingdom of VT

2010-05-21T00:00:00Z

Dateline: Lisbon, NH – A warm evening in May, the crack of the baseball in the background and kids laughing…

Farm League Baseball, a right of spring, a slice of Americana – especially in this small town of Lisbon NH. When looking at the quintessential small town, this is it. I sat watching these three coaches during warm ups before the “big game” (it’s a big game for these 6,7, and 8 year olds). I noticed these three guys never spoke, but they were all synchronized, all doing the same thing with the little groups of kids in front of them. Everyone was in motion. I wondered how they could do all this, in silence, moving from one drill to the next. I looked at each of them. At some point in their growing up, they had all played together on the same field. These “once players” were now the coaches, they were doing the drills they had all learned. This made me ponder more about Lisbon NH. These men graduated high school here, went to college, and chose to move back to this glorious town. For those who drive through the town, the Lisbon Main Street main not look like a Norman Rockwell painting, but like all our small towns in the area, you have to look beyond the main drag, and find the character…whether its on the baseball field, or on the side streets. Its there, go explore the small towns of the area, they are waiting for you. Who knows, you might be the “new” coach in town someday.

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Bretton Woods - The Final Four

2010-05-07T00:00:00Z

We just closed the first re-sale of a Presidential View home - it had been on the market a short 44 days before going under contract! For those of you who missed that opportunity, do not despair - you have not one, but FOUR more chances to make this dream your reality.

There are four more homes to be built in the Presidential View Association. Foundations are in and construction can begin just as soon as you are ready. If the decision making process of building your own home frightens you, have no fear; the team of Cargill Construction is one of the finest custom builders and will make this process an easy one for you. You can either go with the “standard” package – although I dare say, nothing really standard about it, or you can customize the homes interior to your specifications.

Two stand alone condominiums and one duplex unit are available to be built. Prices starting at $1,125,000. Check them out! Also, take a look at the virtual tour of this property.

Posted by: Michele Penner

Historical Home for Sale in Lisbon NH

2010-04-29T15:30:00Z

I’ve heard it said many times, “Home is where your Story Begins”. How true. From the minute you turn the key and walk in for the very first time, your story and history begins to unfold. Simple day- to-day living such as family gatherings, etc. - it’s all part of the legacy you pass down, and part of the history that a new owner will inherit.

We have a wonderful property available for sale in Lisbon, New Hampshire that is rich in history and has a great story. Located along the , it was originally part of the Richardson Farm, built in 1781 by John Richardson, grandson of Ebenezer Richardson, one of the first settlers of Lisbon, New Hampshire. John and his wife, Olive, lived and raised 16 children in this house. Oh, can you imagine the stories? Well, we’ll just have to imagine the comings and goings in that house then, but we don’t have to imagine the evidence of John’s handiwork and the original materials native to the land back in the late 18th century. One can still see the hand hewn oak pegged beams throughout the house, the original granite hearth and 24” wide cedar roof planks. The walls in the living room (if they could only talk!) are covered with the original attic pine floor boards which measure up to 27” in width. The beautifully landscaped yard is lined with original stone walls, and granite steps which lead to the upper field.

Not to be outdone by the original owners, the current owners Mike and Jan Carver began their own story in this house in 1996. They have lovingly restored this property, keeping with the character of the period while adding modern conveniences. They have added a nicely appointed one bedroom in-law apartment, beautiful landscaping and have restored the wonderful three-story barn adjacent to the house, which they used as a retail antique center for more than 10 years, and now use for their auction business.

You have to see this property in person, or view it below to get more details:

Imagine you and your family sitting around the fieldstone fireplace in the cozy living room or gathered for dinner, sharing tales of your day…skiing, golfing, hiking, or working. Unleash the entrepreneur in you and open a business in the barn where you will greet customers, both local and tourists, who will take stories of you and their experiences back to their families. From the Richardsons to the Carvers, there’s quite a story to be told about this house. Make it your home and begin your own story.

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Bretton Woods April 28th!

2010-04-28T15:05:00Z

Not sure if any of us really believed the weather reports yesterday, after all it was 62 degrees, sunny and absolutely beautiful. The daffodils were in full bloom gracing “mud season” with bursts of yellow everywhere. Today, I sit in my office listening to the rumbling of over a foot of snow falling off the metal roof of our building. Looking across the parking lot towards the ski area, well… you would just have to know that it was there, because you cannot see it through the snow. A foot of snow overnight and still snowing! If this were November we would all be hooting and hollering, thankful that mother nature had blessed us with a wonderful base for the upcoming ski season, but since this is April, and not JUST April, but the END of April, we are just a little on the blue side. The good thing about April snow is they say it is good for the lawns.

The better thing about April snow, is that historically it should melt QUICKLY! Yesterday we were spreading mulch in our flower beds, today we are shoveling our paths! Life is full of excitement and full of challenges..think I’ll head out and build a snowman!

Posted by: Michele Penner

Peabody & Smith to Host Free Seminar on Self Directed IRA's

2010-04-28T05:00:00Z

Have you ever been frustrated by the lack of options in your retirement plans? As more people look to control their own retirement funds, some people control them using a self directed IRA. A self directed IRA is a great option for some, and to better explain how they can be used to invest in real estate, we will be hosting a seminar with a representative from PENSCO Trust at our Littleton office.

PENSCO Trust is a national leader in providing self-directed IRA & individual 401(k) education and custodial services. PENSCO Trust will give a presentation to better explain how they work, what they can be used for, and how to get started.

This educational seminar will take place on Thursday May 13th from 6-8 pm at Peabody & Smith Realty’s Littleton office, located at 11 Riverglen Lane . I recently asked our Commercial Sales Manager Erin Hennessey about these and she said that tr aditional 401K/IRA fund managers only offer the participant options limited to their company’s approved family of mutual funds and stocks and a self-directed IRA allows much more flexibility and control. She added that it expands the investment opportunities to include other options including real estate and debt obligations.

With the current inventory levels, competitive prices and more, this is a great time to purchase real estate. With a self-directed IRA, people will be able to make it work to their advantage, while providing them with the control they desire.

For more information on the free seminar, or to RSVP, please feel free to contact Erin Hennessey at Peabody & Smith Realty, 603-823-5700 or email her at: erinh@peabodysmith.com.

We look forward to seeing you on May 13th! And light refreshments will be served!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Peabody & Smith Realty Launches New Rental Website

2010-04-26T12:11:00Z

Our rental department is growing by leaps and bounds and in an effort to make online reservations for vacation rentals easier and more user-friendly, we recently launched a new rental website, peabodysmithrentals.com.

While our website, peabodysmith.com, used to host rental information, as the rental department expanded and grew, it became apparent a separate website was needed. When discussing the rental website with our Rental Manager Steve Gorman at the beginning of our launch, we felt having our own rental site would enable us to better promote our rental selections and provide our customers with an abundance of information and pictures for each property. On the backend of the system it creates efficiency which allows us to focus efforts on our high level of customer service with our guests.

The site also allows us to have a streamlined booking process which benefits the homeowner and is user friendly for the consumer. The site also hosts multiple pictures of the rental properties, there is local information, and potential guests can compare properties and view guests reviews and much more.

Feel free to check out the rental website, and all our rental properties at www.peabodysmithrentals.com. Inventory changes daily, so check back often!

Posted by: Chrissy Smith

Bretton Woods in Transition!

2010-04-08T21:46:00Z

It’s transition time here at Bretton Woods! The snow is melting and the grass is greening. The Bretton Woods ski area will be closing April 11th after a record 2009-2010 season.

The Mount Pleasant Golf Course will open weekends beginning April 16th. The recent warm temperatures have established the greens to their post reconstruction form! We hope to see the beautiful Mount Washington Golf Course open by May 1st! Keep your fingers crossed!

So, it is officially time to store away the skis and dust off the clubs!

We are looking forward to a wonderful summer season here at the resort!

Stop by to visit us at the entrance to the ski area to learn more about properties available for sale or rent at the resort.

Posted by:Michele Penner

Leeann Trahan Joins Peabody & Smith Realty in Littleton

2010-03-26T20:30:00Z

We are so proud to have Leeann Trahan in our Littleton office! Leeann has decided to join our team of agents as a Sales Associate. Leeann is also the owner of a day spa in Bethelehem called Razzmatazz. Leeann is taking her administrative and management background and expanding it into a real estate career. Leeann served four years in the military, where she met her husband David. While the military has its benefits, Leeann and David felt that giving their family a home was more important. They decided to settle in Lisbon, NH in 1996, where they still reside today. Before becoming an investor at Razzmatazz, Trahan served as the Human Resources Manager at Tender Corporation for four years.

As a licensed esthetician, business owner and investor she understands the importance of delivering accurate knowledge and information to customers & clients.

We know that Leeann has a strong knowledge of the local area, and a firm understanding of the real estate market. Already, she has proven herself to be an asset to our company, and we know she’ll work exceptionally well for our clients and customers, because at the end of the day, our firm is client and customer focused. The Peabody & Smith Realty motto is, ‘a reputation for results’ and our team of agents works to deliver just that, results.

Welcome aboard Leeann! You are a great addition!

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

Spring in Bretton Woods!

2010-03-24T21:30:00Z

We woke up this morning to find the trees once again completely snow-covered! Not exactly what one hopes for on the 3rd day of spring – even at a ski area! However, it is great news for those looking forward to this weekend’s Beach Party here at Bretton Woods. Beach Party Weekend is always a fabulous time. Smelling the hamburgers cooking on the rooftop deck (weather permitting) gets your mouth watering! The highlight of the day of course is the “slush pool”, where young and not so young alike attempt to ski, snowboard and some even canoe across the icy waters! The ski area is scheduled to be open until April 11th, but you won’t want to miss out on all the fun this weekend.

While you are here, please stop by the new Peabody & Smith office to say hello and check out current properties listed for sale here at the resort. We are located just at the entrance of the ski area. Not able to make it up? Check out properties on our website.

Posted by:Michele Penner

Land in Vermont – Spectacular

2010-03-08T21:19:00Z

Sometimes land comes along that seems so unbelievably beautiful that it takes your breath away. That is what happened when I first saw my new land listing in Danville, Vermont. Coming from Arizona a year and half ago, my real estate experience was in new construction or existing homes. As you can imagine, most of the land was gone and developed into subdivisions. In Vermont, however, you can be rural and private and away from it all, and experience every beautiful thing in nature from mountain views, deer, moose, fox, eagles and more.

The white twinkling snow, rolling hills and plains, pastures of black and white Holstein cows, is like a beautiful painting. I know when I put on my snowshoes and hiked up the sloping land to the vista where rock formations and perfectly placed trees were, I looked around and the views are panoramic, and the mountains draped with snow with hues of the sunset, blues, pinks, yellows…why wouldn’t you want to be sipping a cup of tea or coffee in your kitchen admiring this everyday of your life? You can.

In Vermont, you can select a beautiful piece of land like this and build your dream home. This land is convenient to VAST for snowmobiling, Town of Danville, Danville schools, and restaurants like The Creamery and Bed & Breakfasts like The Danville Inn. Take Rte 2 and be at Joe’s Pond quickly, and continue on to Montpelier or Burlington. Stop by Marty’s First Stop and say hello to your friends in the community. When you live in a Town in Vermont, you will experience neighbors and community again. The cold weather never chills you with the warmth you experience. Come to Danville, Vermont and build your future!

Posted by:Kris Still

Dick McGinnis Joins Peabody & Smith Realty in Bretton Woods NH!

2010-02-15T14:57:00Z

Our Bretton Woods real estate office, located right at the entrance of the Bretton Woods Ski Area at the Mount Washington Resort has been busy and we are pleased to announce that long time Bretton Woods Broker Associate, Dick McGinnis has joined us at the office.

It’s not an unfamiliar commute for Dick McGinnis, as this has been his home base for a number of years. Dick has been selling real estate since 1987, and in 2002 he became the principal broker at Bretton Woods Real Estate, which later turned into Mt Washington Resort Realty. Peabody & Smith Realty recently acquired the Mt. Washignton Resort Realty office, and this is the office that Dick has spent the last decade working at. We are so pleased to have Dick on our team, and look forward to combining his expertise and knowledge of the area to the benefit of our sellers and buyers who are interested in purchasing a home at Bretton Woods. Here are some of the homes now for sale at Bretton Woods. We also have just started offering the last four slopeside ski homes to be built at Presidential Views, more on that soon!

Dick can be found on his days off skiing with his grandchildren at the Bretton Woods Ski Area, along with other Peabody & Smith agents! The Peabody & Smith office at Bretton Woods is staffed with Managing Broker Michele Penner, Sales Associate Terry Penner, both longtime Bretton Woods owners, and Dick. He is a long time resident of Lancaster, where he resides with his wife Annetta. He can be reached at the office at 278-1440, or via email at richardm@peabodysmith.com.

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

Looking for Vacation Home in Scenic Northeast Kingdom Vermont on VAST Snowmobile Trail

2010-02-04T20:40:00Z

I am so proud to tell you about a vacation home for a combination-family purchase that I listed in St. Johnsbury, Vermont! This home is so unique because it is very updated, very spacious and has interesting separate areas throughout. What I like about it is that there is a main-floor master bedroom, then you can go upstairs with a choice of two staircases. One staircase leads you to 3 bedrooms, and a spiral staircase with other rooms above. It has its own bathroom. All beautiful and brightly painted colors, and modernly updated. The next staircase, leads you to another 2 bedrooms with a full bathroom. Take the staircase down to a finished basement, with living room retreat and bookshelves. More rooms for sleeping are available, as is a nice workshop. The perfect part about it, is that more than one family could purchase this together and have privacy and plenty of room for entertainment. The kitchen is open with an eat up bar, and an amazing pantry. Sitting rooms and sitting areas are throughout, and a lovely office. First floor laundry is a plus, as is the large 2 car garage with storage, and mudroom with dog shower and dog door out to a run. Walk outside and you are on the VAST Snowmobile trail! Just take off. 20 min. from Burke Mountain, for skiing or biking, 30 min. from Cannon Mountain, 40 min to Mt. Washington Ski Resort and Bretton Woods!

I am so proud of this home, it would be an amazing place to call your own!

My love for Vermont is enhanced by unique opportunities like this for others to find Vermont a home away from home. You can also visit our other listings at www.peabodysmith.com

Posted by:Kris Still

Our New Office Opens at Bretton Woods!

2010-01-19T14:37:00Z

Peabody & Smith Realty recently joined forces with Mount Washington Resort Realty to become the premier provider of real estate services for both Bretton Woods Land Company and existing home owners at the resort. Our new office is located at the entrance of the Bretton Woods Ski Area, right here in Bretton Woods, NH.

As with any alliance, the combining of each party’s strengths creates a union for future growth. Each of our firms saw a need to augment each other in order to focus on their individual goals. For Bretton Woods Land Company, that goal is the development of future neighborhoods including the village; and building a vibrant new community. By working with Peabody & Smith Realty, they can focus on what they do best, while allowing us to focus on existing town home sales, rentals and marketing of the new construction currently underway at Stone Hill and Presidential Views.

Mount Washington Resort Realty is the real estate brokerage arm of Bretton Woods Land Holdings and is headed by Mike Brunetti, the Director of Development. Brunetti said, “We are delighted and know that we have entrusted Peabody & Smith Realty to take over the inventory of existing homes for sale in the many villages here at Bretton Woods. With this opportunity with Peabody & Smith Realty, we’ll be able to continue to focus on planning and developing the future neighborhoods at Mt. Washington Resort.”

For Andy Smith, Broker/Owner of Peabody & Smith Realty, this opportunity enables them to provide a long term presence and stability at the resort. He added, “We are able to provide our full service real estate solutions to both the current property owners at the resort, and to Mount Washington Resort Realty.”

We have purchased the “Story Center” located at the entrance of the Bretton Woods Ski Area located at the Omni Mount Washington Resort. The office makes the fifth office for us, we have other New Hampshire offices in Franconia, Littleton and Plymouth and one in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

Andy Smith added, “This will allow us to better serve our Bretton Woods clients and assist our customers. We have represented a number of Bretton Woods home and condo owners over the years, and this lets us better serve their needs. Like all of our offices, we will be open seven days a week, and ready to service our Bretton Woods buyers.”

The office will be under the direction of Michele Penner, Broker Associate. Penner has lived at Bretton Woods for years, along with her husband Terry, and has worked for Peabody & Smith Realty for the last two years. Smith said, “Michele and Terry understand Bretton Woods, the real estate market and are attentive to the needs of our customers and clients.”

We are looking forward to helping you, so if you are out skiing at Bretton Woods, stop by and say hello!

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

Vermont - My Move to Paradise

2010-01-15T21:27:00Z

Most residents of Vermont have been here for generations, in fact some families settled the original State of Vermont. Some of us are fortunate enough to get to come here and experience all that Vermont has to offer. If you are considering a move to Vermont, perhaps your life-long dream is to open a Bed & Breakfast, or own an Antique Farmhouse, or a Colonial, I can help make your dreams come true! I am a Native of Houston, Texas, having relocated to Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona for years. You can imagine that my exposure to winter, has been very minimal. I remember as a child getting to miss school for a very rare “snow shower”, that amounted to a powder that barely stuck to the ground, about twice. However, we ran outside and scraped together enough to make a tiny snowman! Arizona, where the low was about 40, and we were all freezing! A single mother of 5, decided to join eHarmony to find that perfect someone for me and my three boys and two girls, one with special needs. After meeting the perfect guy, and 7 months of commuting, we decided to load up the moving truck and move to Barnet, Vermont.

Being a Realtor for 4 years in Arizona, I went to work for Peabody & Smith Realty, in St. Johnsbury, VT. We moved in June of 2008, to his home on Harvey’s Lake. I have been through a real winter and real seasons, and am now in my second winter. Sub zero temperatures, don’t seem so bad when you enjoy all there is to offer here in Vermont, from snowshoeing, skiing, snowmobiling and more!

We love the schools, Barnet School and St. Johnsbury Academy, and all they have to offer my special needs child and my other children, from all sports, great education, small classroom sizes, Arts programs and Ski program at Burke Mountain. I will be blogging further as to my experiences here in Vermont and how this was the Best Move and Decision of my life, and it can be yours too!

Posted by:Kris Still

Bethlehem, NH: A Scenic, Small Town

2010-01-15T20:41:00Z

Bethlehem New Hampshire is a scenic, small town that that has retained all of it's charm in the years since it was settled in the 1800's. There were many Grand Hotels in Bethlehem and although most are now gone, there are still active bed and breakfast establishments and hotels. It was a railroad line stop on the way north to Dixville Notch and the Balsam's Resort, with as many as 7 trains coming everyday to Bethlehem to unload vacationers.

My father has told stories of my grandparents traveling to The Balsams for summer vacations, (I imagine to beat the heat from Forest Hills, NY) and commenting on how many people would depart the train in Bethlehem. It's funny to think that 80 years later I would settle in that same town! I love living in a small rural New Hampshire town. It is very similar to the town I grew up in, just south of Syracuse NY.

One of the things that I love about Bethlehem is that you can walk on Main Street and explore the shops, duck into an ice cream shop (yes, even in the winter!) and enjoy a great indie flick at the Colonial Theatre (Sorry that IS closed in the Winter), or in the summer enjoy a Sunday concert at the gazebo on a residential street just past the Elementary School is a home for sale. 166 James Street The home is a split level home on .51+/- acres, at the end of dead end road. New windows and new siding.

Contact me at diane@peabodysmith.com if you have any questions.

Posted by:Diane Johnson

Snow, Snow and More Snow at Bretton Woods

2010-01-05T15:26:00Z

The storm of 2010 was extremely generous to Bretton Woods. Snow started falling, well, it is actually hard to remember when snow started falling, as it seems it is almost always snowing in Bretton Woods; but anyway the snow finally stopped Sunday night around 11:30 PM. Total accumulation: somewhere in the vicinity of 33 inches – almost 3 FEET of snow. Some left the resort early Saturday morning in order to get home safely before the bulk of the storm hit, but those who stayed were treated to some unbelievable amounts of snow and a powder experience not to be forgotten. Most people I talked to in the lodge on Sunday confessed to only being able to take 3 runs and then had to break.

The powder was so deep it was hard to navigate – especially for those of us who aren’t used to the deep stuff. More snow on Monday! I am thinking if the sun comes out today it is going to be a fabulous day of skiing at Bretton Woods. The crew has been busy grooming trails and as of this morning a reported 99 out of 101 trails were open. If you can’t make it today, Wednesday is 2 for 1 day at Bretton Woods…if you have the chance, it is worth taking!

Click Here for further ski condition reports.

Posted by:Michele Penner

5+ acres located in the quiet town of Lyman, NH

2010-01-04T21:27:00Z

Tucked back on a quiet road in Lyman, NH lies a piece of land that incorporates views, seclusion and close proximity to Littleton. The pleasure of this land lies in the fact when you build your home you will be close, yet far away to amenities. The small town feel is truly alive here. Located only 10 minutes from Littleton Regional Hospital and the town of Littleton,NH with shopping, resturants, and the award winning Main Street it is an easy trip to “town.”

Posted by:Diane Johnson

Best Place for Finding Jobs

2010-01-01T15:36:00Z

Grafton Country New Hampshire is Rated Tops…This reported on TV Channel 9, WMUR Evening News this evening ”CNN and Money magazine rated Grafton County the sixth best place in the country for jobs”

Posted by:Joy Moore

The RCC Designation and What It Means

2009-12-30T22:58:00Z

I recently earned the “RCC” designation from the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®. Now I can be referred to as, “Chrissy Smith, RCC.” But what does the RCC abbreviation mean? Well, it stands for “RELO Certified Coordinator” and it means that I have met a number of educational requirements and demonstrated a working knowledge of how to handle relocating clients and customers, and the policies and procedures of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®. For the last year, I have been the point of contact for companies who call us because they have a client or customer who may be relocating here to the White Mountains of NH or the Green Mountains of VT. Or even to Central NH. We have offices in all locations, and I am the point of contact for those firms who are also members of LeadingRE, and looking to help their customers find a firm and agency in this area. We also are able to help clients and customers who live here in the Greater Littleton, St. Johnsbury or Plymouth markets, but who may be purchasing a home in another area, or even selling a home in another area. We are able through our network of LeadingRE affiliates, to find an independent real estate firm, who can assist them as they reach their goals. We try to offer a solution for them, whether they need real estate help in this area, or in another state, or in another country.

Through our LeadingRE affiliates, we help locally, and globally. So if you need any help relocating, or looking for a second home in another area, or need to sell your second home in another state, please feel free to give us a call at 603-444-1294 or email me at chrissy@peabodysmith.com, and let’s see how we can help you. Its a free service we offer, and we love to help!

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

Winter wonderland in the White Mountains of New Hampshire

2009-12-29T20:10:00Z

I was privileged to enjoy a few days of “rest and relaxation” while the kids were on Christmas break from school. We went skiing at Bretton Woods, sledding in the back yard most of all enjoyed our new toy for Christmas, a Wii console. If you are not familiar with the Wii system it is the most incredible gaming system with intuitive controls that literally my 75(ish?) father can play and scads of games that everyone in the family can enjoy. Now that that Bethlehem has more snow the kids have been clamoring to get the snowmobiles out and I am looking forward to riding the local trails in our area. My husband has dad time with our 2 oldest sons and he goes on the longer snowmobile trips. From the Bethlehem trail system he can easily connect either to Twin Mountain that connects all the way to Canada! Or Littleton trails- the possibilities for travel on the snowmobiles are endless. One of the things I am asked frequently is “Where can we get warm and get a quick bite to eat then get back on the sleds in Bethlehem?” The Village Store on Main Street is a great place to grab a hot, homemade sandwich, chili and more even more importantly it is warm and inviting unfortunately there is no seating inside because it is a grocery store but stay for a while chat with some of the people, you never know who you will meet and how welcome you will feel even at a local grocery store. So now I am rejuvenated am ready to get back to work! I am looking forward to more posts about Bethlehem and White Mountains area real estate soon.

Posted by:Diane Johnson

Snow Glorious Snow in Bretton Woods

2009-12-29T16:07:00Z

So this year was one of the few years we did not get any snow fall on Christmas Day. The ground was covered, but none magically falling fresh as we have come to expect each Christmas morning. Apparently Mother Nature’s calendar was just a few days off. We have been getting clobbered with snow since yesterday afternoon. I would estimate over a foot has fallen already. I have to admit I have not strapped on the skis yet… don’t really know what I am waiting for as conditions have been superb at Bretton Woods! We did have rain that spoiled some of it the other day; however as of this morning there are 55 of 101 trails open, and with a foot plus of fresh powder, what more could you ask for? For all you Nordic skiers, there are 17 of 49 trails open. For non-skiers, or for a special treat after a day or two of skiing, you must try out the spa. It is an experience you won’t soon forget. Bretton Woods offers a variety of great outdoor activities, from dogsledding, tubing, sleigh rides, ice skating, Snowshoeing and high-alpine eco tours, to the usual alpine and Nordic skiing. Last year the canopy tour was introduced and it has been a favorite ever since.

Lots of fun things going on in the next few days…check it out. The torchlight parade is back!!!

There are plenty of opportunities to make Bretton Woods your home away from home. Click here to view available properties for sale.

Posted by:Michele Penner

Snowmobile Lots in Lancaster

2009-12-28T18:10:00Z

With the winter here and snow on the ground, the snowmobile enthusiasts are calling our Peabody and Smith offices for properties with snow-mobile access in our north country area of New Hampshire. I have listed for sale 2 lots, (10 and 11 acre) with access to the VAST Trails of Vermont, linking with trails where you can ride from Portsmouth, NH to Montreal Quebec, Canada.

Posted by:Joy Moore

Missy Sullivan Joins Peabody & Smith Realty

2009-12-23T15:10:00Z

We are thrilled to announce that we have expanded more in our Plymouth NH Office and we recently welcomed Missy Sullivan, a veteran Real Estate agent as a Sales Associate.

Missy has had a real estate license for eighteen years, and began actively practicing for the past five years. Missy is a Plymouth NH native, and is knowledgeable about the area as a whole. Like our other agents in the office, Missy has a strong understanding of the schools, recreation opportunities, and more for buyers who may be relocating to the Plymouth area.

Our Plymouth office at 85 Main Street, now has four full time agents, and one licensed administrative professional. We are looking to grow further in the Plymouth area, and continue to assist our new and existing clients.”

Personally, Missy was a cheerleading coach for 12 years at both Plymouth Regional and Newfound High School. She says she can now be “a cheerleader for her listings to help get them sold!” She is married and has two teenagers. Missy can be reached by phone in Plymouth at 238-6990 or using her direct line at the “Push to Talk” button below.

Missy can also be reached by email at missys@peabodysmith.com. Our direct lines, for our Plymouth and St. J offices are set up to ring at their desks, then at their cell phone, so they are available anytime.

Welcome Missy! We’re thrilled to have you on the Peabody & Smith Realty team!

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

Four of our Peabody & Smith Agents Achieve the CBR Designation

2009-12-14T21:36:00Z

Once again, we are so pleased at how our agents continually learn new things, take new classes and earn designations to help their clients and customers. Recently, four of our Broker Associates completed the Certified Buyer Representative Program and now have the initials CBR® after their name.

Beth Horan, Joy Moore, Mary O’Toole, and Susan Jones were recently certified by RealNet Learning Services of McLean, Virginia, as CBR®-Certified Buyer Representatives. They are now trained in the professional representation of home purchasers. Buyer Representative is a cooperating agent who legally represents the real estate buyer. Each agent completed three days of extensive training to earn this Designation. According to the CBR website, less than 1% of the agents in the country have earned this designation.

Beth is one of our bloggers at www.guidemehome2thewhitemountainsofnh.com. She has been with Peabody & Smith Realty for over a decade. She is licensed in both New Hampshire and Vermont and works out of their Franconia office.

Joy Moore is another one of our bloggers, and works out of the Littleton office of Peabody & Smith. She was also named in 2009 as the Lakes Region Board, Realtor of the Year. She has worked at Peabody & Smith for 15 years, and is also licensed in the state of Vermont. Real Estate has been her passion for over twenty years.

Mary O’Toole has been with Peabody & Smith for almost five years. She is licensed in New Hampshire and works also out of their Franconia office.

Susan Jones obtained her real estate license almost a decade ago. She has worked for Peabody & Smith during that time. She is also licensed to sell real estate in Vermont.

“As always, I am so proud of these agents. They continue to exceed expectations in order to make their clients experience with them, and with the company, the best it can be through their continued knowledge and education.” said Andy Smith, Broker/Owner of Peabody & Smith.

With 28 full time Realtors, and a support staff of seven, we have offices in Franconia, Littleton, Plymouth and St. Johnsbury. We are members of and one of only 600 firms chosen as part of The Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. As a member, Peabody & Smith Realty, Inc. is affiliated with the finest real estate firms worldwide. The relationship also enables us to assist individuals relocating to virtually any community in the U.S. or abroad. Just give us a call if we can help.

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

December Market Watch from Peabody & Smith Realty

2009-12-04T22:45:00Z

It has been quite a ride in 2009, rising foreclosures, lower housing prices, and at the beginning of the year it all was looking so bleak. However, it would appear we have hit bottom and are rebounding, both nationally and locally. Fed Chairman Ben Bernacke was recently quoted as saying,

“Housing in the coming year is going to be a relative bright spot - a helpful driver of national economic growth, rather than the wet blanket it’s been for the past couple of years.”

The headlines are everywhere:

“Pending home sales have risen for nine months in a row, a first for the series of the index since its inception in 2001, according to the National Association of Realtors.

“New Hampshire home sales show 8 percent increase in October” according to the NH Association of Realtors.

Locally, from the graphs you can see we have compared the first 11 months of 2009 to the same time frame in 2008. For some towns like St. Johnsbury VT the numbers stayed relatively the same. 30% more houses were sold, with a slightly lower sales price from the year before and the days that the houses stayed on the market actually decreased, so for St. Johnsbury, the market really held its own year over year. However, for the towns of Lyndon and Burke, average selling prices dropped just over 20%, which are numbers that have been seen on the national scale.

In New Hampshire, Littleton experienced a similar feat as St. Johnsbury. More houses sold, with a similar sales price year over year, but a higher number of days the house stayed on the market. For the town of Plymouth, more houses sold in 2009, the average selling price was up by 20% and days on market increased slightly. Very encouraging indeed.

So while doom and gloom seemed to prevail in the media, and in water cooler discussion, many of our larger area towns held their own and weathered the storm in decent shape. Granted this data is only through the first of December, but we don’t expect huge changes at the end of the year.

What drove the market this year? Well, certainly the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of $8,000 helped, as some buyers raced to beat the November 30th deadline, which has now been extended until the end of June. For others, they recognized the good values of the homes being offered, and made purchases either for themselves to live in, or are going to use them as an investment tool.

For 2010, we expect that the new Move Up Tax Credit of $6500 will certainly help drive some sales. This tax credit is for buyers who already own a home, but are purchasing another one, and it doesn’t have to be more expensive than the one they currently own. The First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit has been extended until June of 2010, and that’s an $8000 tax credit for someone who hasn’t owned a home in 3 years. There is more information about these tax credits on our website, www.peabodysmith.com

But we can’t talk about 2009, and even 2010 without discussing the foreclosures and short sales we have seen. Homes are selling that have been foreclosed on, and we have helped to facilitate a number of “short sales” - sales where the sellers owes more on the property than they can sell it for. For sellers, this is a terrifying position to be in, but its imperative to be pro-active and reach out for help. There are two area resources to help - AHEAD Home Ownership Center in Littleton (and they serve Plymouth and beyond) and Gilman Housing Trust in Vermont Both of these non-profits have programs to try to help you should you find yourself in this position. But please, give us a call, talk to an agent, and let’s see what we can do to help.

2010 should certainly see the market rebound a bit, but it will be many years before we see the same price levels that we unnaturally hit in the boom times of 2005. The rebound will be at more sustainable levels over many years, leading to a healthy market again.

I’ve said it before, and it bears repeating. Interest rates are at their lowest levels right now, and the housing affordability index is at its lowest since 1970, if you are ready to buy a home, or invest in the market for the long term, this is the time to do it. Selection is good, and its a buyers market. Give us a call, develop a relationship with an agent. Let us get to know you, so we can help you find the home, land, business or rental that you’ve been waiting for.

Posted by:Andrew Smith

3 Peabody & Smith agents awarded Green Designation

2009-12-04T18:49:00Z

We are so pleased with our Peabody & Smith agents continually taking new classes in order to better help their customers and clients. We are pleased to announce that three of our agents, Beth Horan, Terry Penner and Michele Penner have been awarded the National Association of REALTOR®’s (NAR’s) Green Designation, the only green real estate professional designation recognized by NAR.

Beth, Terry & Michele achieved this prestigious designation after completing 18 hours of course work designated specifically for REALTORS®. The Courses were created in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of industry experts from across the country, ensuring designees gain comprehensive knowledge of green homes and buildings and issues of sustainability in relation to real estate.

They were each trained in understanding what makes a property green, how to help clients evaluate the cost/benefits of green building features and practices, and how to distinguish between industry rating and classification systems. They learned about a number of other topics also including: listing and marketing green homes and buildings, discussing the financial grants and incentives available to home owners, and helping consumers see a property’s green potential.

As NAR Green Designees, Beth, Terry and Michele have gained the knowledge and the tools necessary to become a trusted green resource for the North Country. We do have a number of green homes in the area for sale, including this one in Woodsville NH.

Beth has been with Peabody & Smith Realty for over a decade. And the Penner’s have owned property at Bretton Woods since 1996 and moved here full time a few years ago to pursue a real estate career.

Congratulations to Beth and the Penner’s, from all of us at Peabody & Smith Realty!

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

How Green Are You?

2009-11-13T22:46:00Z

Having recently completed the educational requirements for the National Association of REALTORS® Green designation, I have spent some time analyzing my own daily practices and finding out how “green” I am.

Take a look at this list that describes relatively inexpensive ways that you and your family can conserve energy provided by the NAR and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Posted by:Michele Penner

Bretton Woods Opens!

2009-11-10T22:20:00Z

Their website said they would open mid-November, but not many believed it. For all you nonbelievers, the ski area was opened on November 7th! 1 out of 101 trails opened, but hey what did you expect! A few anxious skiers did take advantage of the $10.00 fee to ski, what I have to believe, is the first skiing in NH for the season. Proceeds of the day went to the Adaptive Ski Program and/or the Ski Team, so not only did you get the chance to say you skied first in the New Hampshire 2009/10 season, but you had the opportunity to help out two worthy causes!

Temperatures expected in the 50’s, actually 60’s yesterday, may make this a short term opportunity, however the snowmaking crews are ready, willing and able to make snow whenever the conditions allow!

Posted by:Michele Penner

Our St. Johnsbury Office Is In Their New Building!

2009-11-10T20:33:00Z

After a few weeks of renovations, our St. Johnsbury office is up and running at our new location, 683 Railroad Street, St. Johnsbury. We installed the sign on a chilly Friday afternoon, Andy Smith and our Renovation Specialist Lon Ashton handled the installation. This year, we have doubled our staffing in St. Johnsbury to 4 agents and added an administrative assistant. At the office, you’ll find: Robin Jacobs, Toni Morris, Kris Still, Sam Vance and Stacey Brisson. Stop by sometime and say hello! We’d love to show off our new place, with its new paint job, new decor and more! The real estate market is picking up in St. Johnsbury and we’re ready to help you.

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

Landaff NH Cheese featured in Martha Stewart Living

2009-11-09T20:59:00Z

It’s not everyday that someone you know gets featured in Martha Stewart Living magazine, especially when they are from the tiny town of Landaff, New Hampshire. But that’s what happened in the November issue. The Landaff Creamery showed up on page 169 in an article entitled, “Made in Vermont” that discussed cheese making in the Green Mountain state. This Landaff cheese is the only one made in New Hampshire, but it is aged at Jasper Hill Farm in Greensboro, Vermont. The Landaff Creamery, located on the Mill Brook Road in Landaff creates a traditional welsh style semi firm cheese, that is creamy, mild and tangy.

Landaff is a tiny hamlet of 300 people, the place I call home. If you want to live near the Landaff Creamery, we have a house available on the road, and some land, come check it out – you could see the cheese making process up close and share the results with your neighbors! And try some of their cheese, you can order it online.

For more on Landaff, visit this older blog post that discusses more about the town

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

Are You Ready To Buy A Home?

2009-11-09T15:15:00Z

Many buyers think that there are just three steps to buying a home. Look at houses, find a house you like and buy it!

There are actually quite a few more steps and educating yourselves on the process might be the single best thing you can do. Buying a home can be an overwhelming, stressful time, but if you have an understanding of the process and know what to expect, you might actually enjoy it. Working with a REALTOR® who can assist you step by step throughout the process is important as well.

Now that you know “how much” of a home you can afford, you should sit down and identify your actual needs in a home. If you are purchasing with a spouse or partner each of you should separately sit down and make a list of all “must haves.” Compare your lists, discuss the differences, and come up with a joint list that you can both live with.

If you are moving to a different area, it will be important to research the communities in the area that you are moving to. If you have children, for example, you may want to contact the schools and find out about the programs that they offer. Find out which communities fit your wants and needs and make sure to visit them.

You will also want to be sure you know what property types you are interested in.

As you will be a buyer, competing with other Buyer’s in the market, you will need to do some research. Your REALTOR® may be the best source in helping you with this step. You need to look at properties that fit the description of the property you have identified as what you are looking for – find those that have sold, those that have expired and those that are actively on the market. This data will tell you what other Buyer’s have been willing to pay for similar homes (the solds), what prices other Buyer’s have rejected (those expired) and what is currently available on the market. This is an important step in understanding and being able to negotiate a price on the home that you find to purchase.

Many buyers think that there are just three steps to buying a home. Look at houses, find a house you like and buy it!

First and foremost you need to address your financial situation. Make an appointment with a lender. They can help determine how much of a loan you can afford, what types of loans you may qualify for, and can get you a “pre-approval” which will get you started on your search for a home. Allowing you to zero in on only those homes that you can afford to purchase! Now that you know “how much” of a home you can afford, you should sit down and identify your actual needs in a home. If you are purchasing with a spouse or partner each of you should separately sit down and make a list of all “must haves.” Compare your lists, discuss the differences, and come up with a joint list that you can both live with. If you are moving to a different area, it will be important to research the communities in the area that you are moving to. If you have children, for example, you may want to contact the schools and find out about the programs that they offer. Find out which communities fit your wants and needs and make sure to visit them. You will also want to be sure you know what property types you are interested in. As you will be a buyer, competing with other Buyer’s in the market, you will need to do some research. Your REALTOR® may be the best source in helping you with this step. You need to look at properties that fit the description of the property you have identified as what you are looking for – find those that have sold, those that have expired and those that are actively on the market. This data will tell you what other Buyer’s have been willing to pay for similar homes (the solds), what prices other Buyer’s have rejected (those expired) and what is currently available on the market. This is an important step in understanding and being able to negotiate a price on the home that you find to purchase. Next you are ready to start looking! Starting your search online will help you to identify properties that may fit your criteria and eliminating those that don’t. Once you have picked out a list of properties that you think are appropriate it is time to make appointments to see them. Your REALTOR® can make the appointments for you and show you all listings no matter who the listing agency may be. After each showing, you should take the time to evaluate the property that you have just seen. When you are in the process of looking, especially if you have scheduled several showings on the same day, one home can blend into the next. Be sure to take the time after looking to make notes – if it is a possibility write down the positives and the negatives. Bring your camera and take pictures so the property is clear in your mind. Once you start looking at properties you may need to reevaluate your wants and needs. The next step is potentially the hardest one of all – DECIDE which home meets your needs. Next, your REALTOR® will help you to write up and offer and negotiate the price with the seller. Be prepared for the possibility of a counter offer, or counter offers! Once you and the seller have agreed on price and terms of the sale you will need to conduct your inspections. Your inspections may be fine or they may reveal a defect or defects that you had not anticipated. Should something unexpected arise from the inspection you may then need to negotiate with the seller on the repairs of those conditions. Just a word of caution, not all sellers are prepared or are willing to pay for repairs. You must make sure that all contingencies, or stipulations, of your contract have been met. There are some very strict deadlines on a Purchase and Sale Contract. Make sure that you follow those dates. Once all contingencies have been met, it is time to arrange for the move. The final act is to close the deal and move in!

The biggest mistake buyers make is skipping steps 1-6. Knowing how much you can afford and having a good idea of what you are looking for will help eliminate wasted time looking at homes that you cannot afford. As well, if you are looking in an unrealistic range, the houses you actually can afford may then seem completely inadequate after looking at the higher priced homes, and you may feel let down and frustrated. Set your expectations realistically by doing your homework ahead of time! Buying a home, especially your first home should be a fun and rewarding experience! Be prepared and ENJOY!

Posted by:Michele Penner

Attention Bretton Woods Skiers and Riders!

2009-11-02T22:06:00Z

I awoke to find a fine snow on my car, which when I opened the door and heard the wonderful hum of the snow guns, realized was the over spray from the ski area, and not just a heavy frost.

It won’t be long now before we are out on the slopes! Traditionally the ski area has opened Thanksgiving weekend, however, this year they are hoping to open mid-November, providing Mother Nature cooperates with temperatures.

Remember the weather is always different at Bretton Woods! Click here to follow the latest weather conditions at the resort, and get ready for a great season!

Posted by:Michele Penner

CU 4 Reality Financial Literacy Fair

2009-10-23T15:59:00Z

CU 4 Reality Financial Literacy Fair was held at Profile High School in Bethlehem, NH. Profile School services the towns of Franconia, Sugar Hill, Easton and Bethlehem.

This was a fascinating program that (from left to right) Beth Horan, Diane Johnson and Steve Gorman from Peabody & Smith Realty participated in. A mix of sorts between career day and real life budgeting. Approximately 170 students grades 9-12 interacted with local business owners and professionals from Franconia, Littleton and surrounding towns. The students role played as consumers with assigned monthly incomes as we helped establish monthly spending guidelines for them with regards to “the real world of housing”.

Each student had a name tag, below was their already accomplished profession such as Veterinarian, dancer, engineer etc. and given an annual salary to work with. At the end of the day it was hoped students would walk away having developed a better understanding of budgeting, and the reality of making real life buying decisions. This included everything from house rentals, home utility costs, home insurance, car purchases, health insurance, clothing for work, the cost of working out at a gym, owning a pet and many others costs they may encounter as they venture out living on their own.

There were some great questions from the students on the housing front:

-Is it furnished or unfurnished?
-Does it cost extra for a pet?
-Do I have to buy my own appliances?
-How long do I have to commit to this apt. for?
-How far from stores is the house? Did they need a car or transportation?

Some on the other hand only cared about who they lived with! Few took note of the aesthetics of the home.

Peabody & Smith hopes this was an enriching day of learning for the students at Profile. We feel privileged for the invitation to take part, it was a delightful way for us to spend the day as a day in the life of a Realtor®!

Posted by:Elizabeth Horan

Our St. Johnsbury Office is Moving

2009-10-19T17:03:00Z

For over three years, we have been operating an office in St. Johnsbury in leased space at 357 Western Avenue. Well we don’t just advise our customers to buy real estate, we buy ourselves! Starting in November, we will be working from our new location at 683 Railroad Street in a building we recently purchased. The building had been previously occupied by Highland Travel, and also has two one-bedroom apartments upstairs. We purchased the building early this fall and have been renovating the office space for the last few weeks.

This new location will mean more space for the staff that has recently doubled to four agents and one assistant. Broker/Owner Andy Smith said, “It’ll be great for our customers because we’ll have more space to meet with our clients and customers. In addition, it’s a highly visible location, right near the heart of downtown.”

We love the St. Johnsbury community, and are committed to the St. Johnsbury real estate market. It was a great opportunity for us. The St. Johnsbury office is comprised of:

Robin Jacobs Toni Morris Sam Vance Kris Still Administrative Assistant Stacey Brisson

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

First Snowfall at Bretton Woods

2009-10-14T14:42:00Z

Today we awoke to our first snowfall at Bretton Woods! You know what that means, time to put away that lawn furniture and get out the skis, snowboards, snowshoes and all the winter garb!

Fittingly, Ski Magazine just came out with their Reader Resort Survey for the Top 10 ski resorts in the East for 2009. Bretton Woods was number 1 for weather, number 2 for family programs, number 3 in snow making, grooming, on-mountain food, service and scenery; number 5 in lodging and number 6 in dining and lifts. Those of us that ski here regularly know all of this, but for those of you who don’t, you may want to take the opportunity to check out Bretton Woods this ski season.

Bretton Woods has always been a family friendly resort, a place many a child has grown up loving and calling “home”! There are currently several opportunities to become a part of this great community. Click here to view properties available for sale.

Posted by:Michele Penner

Congratulations to Beth Horan & Susan Jones

2009-10-13T05:04:00Z

It’s always nice when your colleagues are recognized, and today we are pleased at Peabody & Smith Realty to announce that our own Beth Horan, CRS, SRES and Susan Jones, CRS, GRI have been named to the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Power Producer group. According to Leading RE, this select group of real estate professionals represents some of the highest-performing agents in the LeadingRE network. The Power Producers gather by phone each month and share successful ideas and strategies that they have experienced, and that may be helpful to the network’s 150,000 sales associates worldwide. These calls are focused on exploring the most effective ways to serve home buyers and sellers.

Susan Jones, CRS, GRI has been with Peabody & Smith for almost a decade. Jones has earned the GRI designation (Graduate Realtor Institute) and the highly coveted designation of Certified Residential Specialist. She also has a Vermont Real Estate Brokers license.

Beth Horan, CRS, SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist for agents specializing in properties for senior citizens) has been with Peabody & Smith Realty since 2000. Horan was awarded the Peabody & Smith “Sales Associate of the Year” in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2008. Horan is also Licensed in Vermont and is one of our bloggers who writes for this blog.

Congratulations to Beth and Susan. All of us feel that with the continual sharing of ideas with other brokers around the country, it helps our agents to brainstorm about new ways to position a home in the marketplace. For our clients, it’s a benefit, because these agents are continually learning new things, in an effort to enhance their clients experience. If you need information on how we can help you sell your home, buy a home, or find an agent in another area, feel free to give us a call, or visit us online at www.peabodysmith.com.

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

The first snow of the year!

2009-10-13T04:21:00Z

This is the sight from 994 Profile Road this A.M. The first snow of the year! Yippie!

Hope you all have your fall yard clean up done!

Posted by:Elizabeth Horan

Ski Season is on the Way!

2009-10-07T21:54:00Z

As we listen to the weather forecast for the upcoming weekend that wonderful 4 letter word is mentioned, SNOW! It’s time to put away the beach bags and gear up for ski season. Cannon Mountain is wrapping up its base lodge expansion, flurries are in the air and skiing is just around the corner!

Looking at Cannon, this picture is taken on 10-1-09 from the yard of a spectacular mountain home in Franconia. You’ll love the convenience to slopes, town and interstate. A delightfully warm Adirondack feel with 4 fireplaces that glow from room to room! Cross country ski or hike from your back door to over 80 kilometers of trails.

The Franconia Ski Club is hosting its annual ski swap on Saturday, November 7th from 8am-1pm at the Lafayette Elementary School in Franconia. Get there early as things go fast. Also, don’t forget our favorite folks at the Franconia Sports Shop, check out their great line of apparel and goods with things arriving daily.

Looking to make lasting family memories? Have you ever considered a vacation home in the area? With great inventory, low interest rates and real estate prices at an all time low, you may be surprised how much your money can buy! There is a colonial with 4 bedrooms that is located half way between town and skiing. This home would be comfortable for 2 families to share as a ski home. Or an in town beautifully restored home, again with plenty of room for more than one family to enjoy.

If your vacation style is more suited to condominium’s, The Village At Maplewood in Bethlehem, New Hampshire is located 1/2 way between Bretton Woods Ski Area and Cannon Mtn. A beautiful end unit with 5 bedrooms and 3 full levels of living space is available at the Village At Maplewood. Tucked in off the road this quiet complex is most special. You can enjoy the walking trails, rec center with indoor pool, workout room and Jacuzzi. Or follow the side walk to town and take in a movie at the Colonial Theatre, shop at WREN and dine at Cold Mountain Cafe. Ah so much to do yet such a quiet little spot!

In any event, as foliage winds down I hope the brisk air brings on the excitement of skiing and winter. Think snow!

Posted by:Elizabeth Horan

Is My Home Ready to Sell?

2009-10-07T20:09:00Z

Are you thinking about selling your home? In today’s market, it’s true that properties priced closer to market value will sell first. In addition, the better “primed” your house is, the chances are it will show better than the next and therefore possibly sell before other similar properties.

With the current market conditions and surplus of inventory, as agents we find the first time we take buyers out they are often shopping to remove homes from their list. Removing any homes that they recognize as not fitting their criteria and also those that don’t show well, in short, those that don’t leave a lasting impression.

In the buyer’s eyes, the care you show for your home can be an immediate correlation to how you have maintained your home. The servicing of the furnace, pumping of the septic, cleaning the chimneys. lawn mowing etc. Current service records and a house that is uncluttered and gleams will set yours apart and leave it at the top of their list to consider for a 2nd showing.

As members of the Council of Residential Specialists we would like to share with you the helpful hints list to preparing your home to sell. These suggestions will help you gain a competitive edge. Just remember EVERY detail matters when we have the opportunity to show your home!

If you would like more information on what you can do, please feel free to give us a call, we’re happy to help.

Posted by:Joy Moore and Beth Horan

Lookers turn into buyers, market turns a corner

2009-09-29T21:04:00Z

Finally, we have the data that shows the market has turned. In the last 30 days, the real estate market has really picked up. Over the summer, the market has had a lot of activity in the properties priced under $100,000 - due in large part to the First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit, but now all ends are seeing a solid uptick. As of mid-September, we have three homes over a million dollars under contract, as well as several in the over $500,000 range.

Statistics from the New Hampshire Association of Realtors show that statewide home sales have increased over the previous year for three consecutive months. Sales data released recently by them showed that the number of residential unit sales in August 2009 was up 4 percent over August 2008 sales – from 1,104 in 2008 to 1,169 in 2009. Increased sales activity is having the expected response: Average Days on Market has decreased from a high of 160+, to a more reasonable 137, according to data from the Northern New England Real Estate Network (NNEREN). With the inventory continuing to shrink, we predict that this will continue to decline over the next 12 months. A healthy market is considered to be in the 90 day “Days on market” range, which we last saw in late 2005. The median sales price, according to NNEREN, is leveling off in the $192,000 range, after bottoming out under $170,000. As the mid and upper markets continue to recover, over the next 12 months I expect this to show a steady but slow increase until we plateau again just over the $210,000 mark.

The final data provided by industry expert Steve Harney clearly illustrates how the market rebound has been heavily weighted to the lower price segments as First Time Home Buyers and investors are scooping up great values. As the mid and upper level Buyers gain more confidence over the next 6 months, and recognize the values that are being offered, I believe this market segment will also turn, and turn quickly.

$0-100,000 sales up 38.8%

$100,000 – 250,000 sales up 8.7%

$250,000 -5 00,000 sales down 6.2%

$500,000 – 750,000 sales down 8.9%

$750,000 – 1,000,000 sales down 10.6%

$1,000,000 – 2,000,000 sales down 23.3%

$2,000,000+ sales down 32.4%

All in all, with the real estate busy season typically busiest in the summer, this year it seems to be happening just a little later in the fall as Buyers are realizing that with the low interest rates, home affordability at an all time high, and properties at competitive prices, and the economy stabilizing, this truly is the time to buy. While the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer tax credit has provided an incentive to buy, many of our other buyers are buying without the tax incentive, as they are buying knowing that they can invest their money in an asset that they can live in and use, vacation in, or hold onto a beautiful land parcel for future use. Real Estate is a tangible asset that will prove to be a wise investment.

If you are thinking about selling your home, we’re here to help you decide if this is the right time for you to sell given the market conditions. We take our role as real estate advisors seriously and are prepared to give you honest information regarding your options.

If you have decided this is a great time to buy, we’re here to help. We can show you homes that we have listed, but we can also represent homes that may be listed by another firm. Real Estate firms and Realtors are known for working together, and we are no exception. Whether you are looking for a first home, a condo, a second home, a special piece of land, whatever it may be, we can help.

Being the market leader in any business is not to be taken for granted. We are the leaders based on the range of services we offer you. We can advise you on if you should sell, offer price recommendations, negotiate through a contract and in the end, offer a solution that fits you. We’re here to help, find out how by clicking here.

Posted by:Andrew Smith

Windy Ridge Orchard in Haverhill NH - A Great Destination for People of All Ages!

2009-09-29T15:38:00Z

Windy Ridge, an incredible apple orchard in Haverhill, NH – it’s a must to put on your fall “to-do”activity list! Located off Route 116 in Haverhill, the Fabrizio family have created a true destination full of apple picking, the Cider House Café, an activity path, playground area, farm animals for the kids to feed, gift shop and more. This place has it all.

As a family, we go every year, but this was the first year we ever tried picking apples. Usually we wimp out and buy them in the gift shop, but this year we decided to give it a try – what fun! Having never picked an apple, it was a lot of fun. Although I discovered that it’s much like picking out a Christmas tree with my husband – we had to travel to the farthest part of the orchard, and find “the” most perfect MacIntosh apples. He wouldn’t travel to the Empire apples section, we had to have the Macs, and we had to have the Macs in the very back, but what a great time we had. Our 7 year old enjoyed pulling the wagon, picking the apples and then riding in the wagon on the return trip to the Cider House Café. Even the baby got into the action, she was able to get under a tree and giggled the whole time.

We had a great time, spending over 2 hours and taking it all in. Lunch in the café was delicious, one of the best sandwiches I’ve had in a long time - turkey, apple, maple mayo on a wrap! The cafe is also known for their Cider House donuts, they are yummy and you can eat them there or get some to go.We then visited the farm animals, and went through the adventure trail.

I noticed people of all ages and areas were there, and they all seemed to have a great time. In the winter, Windy Ridge also has Christmas trees to harvest. If you get a chance to visit, go see the Fabrizio family at Windy Ridge Orchard, Route 116 in Haverhill. And if you are lucky enough to live here, make sure you stop by!

If you are in that area this weekend, also make sure you stop by the “green” home we have for sale. This home is located in Woodsville, NH and will be part of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association Open House tour going on all day on Saturday, October 3rd from 10-4 pm. This home will be part of the largest sustainable energy event in the Northeastern US.

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

Dodge Pond in Lyman NH - A Spectacular Sight

2009-09-15T14:52:00Z

This morning I got to take a side road through Lyman NH before I got to our Littleton office. In my travels I had the pleasure of passing by Dodge Pond in Lyman. Dodge Pond has some lovely little homes and camps that dot the landscape, and its a great neighborhood. I’ve traveled through before and have seen people out on the public beach, swimming, fishing, riding bikes and more. And the activity doesn’t slow down in the winter, at that time of year you can see plenty of folks out there ice fishing. This morning, there was one lone fisherman in his boat, taking it all in. The mist coming off the pond was stunning this morning, the foliage is starting to turn and the sun was in just the right spot to capture it on my camera as I drove through.

Dodge Pond is a 35 acre pond in this quaint town between Lisbon and Littleton. Lyman has some other lovely water spots including Ogontz, Round Pond and more. As I continued past Dodge Pond, I stayed on the road that also took me through Partridge Lake in Littleton this morning. What a great way to start the day. I envy those who live on Dodge Pond, and on Partridge Lake, it looks like it would be very calming each day to see the water with the morning mist rising above. If you think you’d like to live on Partridge Lake, we have a property just for you…take a peek !

And as an aside, taking a new road this morning made me think of the Robert Frost poem, “The Road Not Taken”, did you know that Robert Frost used to live in Franconia NH, we’ll tell you more about that in another post!

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

Northern NH & Northeast Kingdom VT Foliage Report

2009-09-14T20:31:00Z

This is such a beautiful time of year here in Northern NH and the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. This is fall, foliage season, leaf peeper season…a spectacular time of year. Shortly before Labor Day, I noticed a few trees starting to turn red. It takes a few weeks to have “all the colors” showing on the leaves, and its a real treat to live here and get to watch it change daily.

Scores of people visit our states to view the foliage, and the states of New Hampshire, and Vermont even have their own foliage reports. I thought I could bring you one each week, and show you the same tree on King Hill Road In Landaff, NH. We can watch the foliage turn together! There are some beautiful roads in this area, but two of my favorite to see the foliage are: the Mt. Eustis Road in Littleton, and King Hill Road in Landaff. What makes these roads so special is the way the trees curl over top of you, and you end up driving through a tunnel of foliage, its beautiful.

If you think you would like to move here and see the scenery change every fall, we can help. And if you are interested in Landaff, NH, we have a beautiful home to show you on the Mill Brook Road, and some other nice homes in the area, we’d love to show you!

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

Riverglen Challenge

2009-09-14T13:59:00Z

The first Riverglen Challenge, a 5 mile race for both walkers and runners, and a 2 mile fun walk was held this past Saturday at the Riverglen House in Littleton, NH. The day was perfect and although the weather forecast had called for rain, it held off for the entire event. There were several multi generational teams of walkers, including one with walkers from age 8 to age 87! The oldest racer to not only to compete in the event, but to complete the 5 mile walk is turning 90!!! When she approached me and asked if she was the only one walking with a walking stick (and it was NOT a cane), I had no idea that she was that old! She looked absolutely fantastic.

This race was organized by David Dodge from the Riverglen House, and several local sponsors also contributed to the event. The proceeds will help to fund health and fitness programs at the Littleton Senior Center. A great cause to keep our seniors active and healthy! The fact that a woman turning 90 could compete on this rather grueling course is certainly a testament for keeping active!

Food and music was provided after the race and gave everyone a chance to cool down and enjoy the afternoon.

I hope that this will be the first of many annual Riverglen Challenges!

Posted by:Michele Penner

Labor Day Weekend in the White Mountains of NH

2009-09-08T20:57:00Z

It was a great Labor Day weekend here in the White Mountains with lots of great activities. My family took in a few events, including the Lancaster Fair. But once a summer, we make it out to the town of Bethlehem to visit their summer concerts. We happened to make it Sunday night, to the last concert of the season. These outdoor concerts take place on the Main Street, overlooking the mountains on a great green space they have in the downtown. The performer was Mark Shelton, and he did a whole bunch of 50s and 60s music. What a sight, my mother said he was so kid friendly and I guess - there were children everywhere in front of him dancing away…adults were dancing also! Mark put on a great show -see some of his photos here! He has an excellent voice (obviously to be up there performing) and he had a great stage presence. He had a bubble machine creating some ambiance, he has a group of dancers, and a hula-hoop contest for those who want to participate. Every year I am astounded how many people come to these concerts in Bethlehem, and the other night was no different. It was crowded. I enjoyed seeing so many people who are proud to call the White Mountains home, but I enjoyed watching people who were traveling through on Route 302 pull over and sit down on the lawn.

These free concerts happen every Sunday through the summer, and I’m sure they are booking entertainment for next year. I had a great time seeing the families who walked to the concert from their home, and the rest of us who traveled in from nearby towns. The American Flag hung proudly from the gazebo, the mountain views were just behind. I loved watching the kids and adults dancing. And I can’t hide my pride when I saw I’m proud to live in the North Country of New Hampshire. Where else does everyone know your name, and if they don’t they ask where you are from. Where else can you see kids and adults dancing together on the green grass on a town common? Well, ok, I know there are other places that have similar concerts, but here in the White Mountains - I think its all pretty special. Check it out next year, you’ll see why so many of us make Bethlehem NH and the White Mountains our home!

If you have ever thought about living in Bethlehem NH, we do have some great homes for sale in this beautiful town. Here are just a few:

This one is just a few miles from the downtown, yet in the country on 20 acres.

And this condo is located at the Village of Maplewood, just a mile from the Free Summer Concerts in Bethlehem! A short commute for great entertainment!

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

Open House Saturday, September 5, Plymouth, NH

2009-09-03T20:03:00Z

On your way home from the Annual Coop 5K on Saturday, September 5, 2009, why not stop by the great open house at 11 Broadway St. in Plymouth.(MLS 2792192) The house is a tastefully updated 1950 home with 3 bedrooms, an elegant dining room and a kitchen to create a lovely dining experience with a comfortable sitting area that your friends can sit and enjoy your company while the meal is being created. Send the spouse into the large family room with the fireplace to watch the game or have them sit on the comfortable screened back porch. The large Jacuzzi completes the back porch area.

This property sits on a gracious welcoming corner lot in a quiet neighborhood setting in Plymouth. It takes minutes to walk downtown, to the banks, college, hospital or the library. Stop by and see the Peabody & Smith agents, we would love to show you around!

Posted by:Sue Sampson

Luxury Living in Sugar Hill, NH

2009-09-01T20:32:00Z

Well this past summer I have spent a considerable amount of time venturing out throughout the North Country of New Hampshire on all our lovely country roads. One of my favorite rides is on Route 117, the road connects Franconia NH to Lisbon NH and goes right through the picturesque town of Sugar Hill NH.

Driving through Sugar Hill last week, I turned onto Sunset Hill Rd., the most enchanting road in Sugar Hill and was captivated by the views of the Franconia Notch and the Presidential Mountain Range. At the end of Sunset, past the Sunset Hill Golf Course (a great 9 hole fun course if you ever get the chance go play there), sited on a knoll is this charming Cape Cod style home, which looks directly over Franconia Notch to the south and the Presidential Mountains to the east. I had a chance to finally go into this home, and this particular site was once the home of the prestigious Overlook Hotel, long past from the gilded age of affluence, however, the opulent view remains…

The home was completely updated in 1998 with a new state of the art kitchen with custom hand made cherry cabintry, cherry floors, new bathrooms and a new rear deck to capture the westerly views of the Green Mountains of Vermont. This home boasts three bedrooms, two baths, and two fireplaces with beamed ceilings in the intimate living room, the master suite looks over Cannon Mountain. This home is a real treat to enjoy here in the White Mountains of NH. It has a park like setting with lush perennial beds. Everything about the home is stunning.

If you ever get a chance to see Sugar Hill, make sure you check out some of the other local attractions also like the Sunset Hill House The Sugar Hill Sampler, Polly’s Pancake Parlor and of course, Harman’s Cheese & Country Store. Sugar Hill is a great place to call home, and it’s a great vacation destination!

In June, Sugar Hill and some of the surrounding towns host a “Field Of Lupine” festival. More on that next spring!

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

Bretton Woods: Living At the End of the Rainbow

2009-08-31T13:46:00Z

Just on my way home the other day, I caught a glimpse of this beautiful rainbow. Having my camera with me at all times, I pulled over and took a picture. The rainbow seemed to end just over the Mount Washington Resort at Bretton Woods, which got me to thinking that Bretton Woods truly is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

I feel so fortunate to be able to call Bretton Woods my home. Aside from the obvious bonus of living at a resort with some of the finest skiing in the east, 27 holes of spectacular golf, access to an incredible brand new spa, some great dining options and the back drop of the most impressive scenery – the majestic Mount Washington, there are additional perks associated with life in the “north country”.

We have an abundance of wild life either at or nearby the resort. Just the other night we had a very small bear and her 3 little cubs visit our deck. While I do not encourage the bears visitation (after 4 wooden bird feeders and 2 hummingbird feeders, I have stopped feeding our feathered friends altogether), I do very much enjoy seeing them, albeit from the safety of my home! We also have several fox that visit regularly. The turkeys were daily visitors in the past, but we have not seen them around property much this summer. Perhaps the fox have claimed the territory as their own, forcing the turkeys out along Route 302 where we see them almost daily. While I have yet to see moose or deer at the resort itself, there is a “regular” spot just down the street where the moose tend to hang out, and an occasional deer has been seen.

Great skiing, great golf, great hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing and more, all within the beautiful White Mountains and including a fantastic array of wildlife, creating a lifetime of wonderful family memories…life just doesn’t get much better than this! If you have never visited Bretton Woods, put it on your “bucket list”!

Posted by:Michele Penner

Beal House Inn located in Littleton NH Under New Ownership

2009-08-13T16:07:00Z

Our commercial department of Peabody & Smith Realty has been busy for months now. Just this week they were busy with the transferring of ownership of the Beal House Inn located on West Main Street. This eight room bed and breakfast has won many awards over the years, including a four star review from the Union Leader’s “Our Gourmet”, and the North American Restaurant Association’s “Award of Excellence”. Other awards include the 2000 Yankee Magazine Editor’s Pick, and the Inn was highlighted in USA Today and the Boston Globe. Locally, it has always been a popular favorite with year round residents and tourists.

This historic Littleton landmark, has been around since the mid 1800s. The property has been purchased by G. David Keller. For the last couple of months, David has been in the inn overseeing the renovation. The first phase of renovation was completed to the Inn and Restaurant and the restaurant has been re-opened. The restaurant is a lovely fine dining establishment and they have opened a piano bar, a great addition to downtown Littleton and the whole White Mountains area! I have a friend who ate there on Sunday, and he said it was great.

David has hired an experienced crew to manage the Inn and Restaurant. Eleanore Imrie will continue continue in her position as Innkeeper in conjunction with Jimmy Caro who will focus on coordinating the marketing and public relations for the Beal House Inn and Restaurant. Brian Coffey joined the management team in June as the Executive Chef and will oversee all operations of the Restaurant and Piano Bar. And the Restaurant’s Sous Chef is Katie Green.

The prior owners, Joel and Cathy Bedor, are longtime Littleton residents who have an interest in historic preservation. They purchased the property in October of 2008 after a bank foreclosure. The Bedors immediately made some needed improvements and contacted us to search for a new owner for this treasured landmark property. Our Commercial Broker Associate Mary Doherty represented the sellers and assisted the buyer in this transaction.

Our commercial department is a department of Peabody and Smith Realty and consists of four Broker/Sales Associates focused solely on the sale and leasing of commercial properties and Business Brokerage opportunities throughout New Hampshire and Vermont and is based in our Franconia office. We are affiliated with the statewide New Hampshire Commercial Investment Board of Realtors, the Commercial Division is not only able to place properties and business opportunities on the traditional Multiple Listing Service but also on a commercially focused website which reaches all commercial brokers in New England with ties to other widely recognized national commercial websites.

So if you ever have a business for sale, or commercial property, feel free to call our commercial department in Franconia.

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

Asian Long Horned Beetle Threat in New Hampshire

2009-08-10T19:39:00Z

Please, please, please if you are coming to visit this beautiful state of New Hampshire, leave your firewood at home!

The state of New Hampshire and the White Mountains National Forest Campgrounds no longer allow firewood to be brought in from out of state, unless it is kiln-dried wood in its original package with label in place.

This drastic, but necessary measure has been taken due to a very destructive and invasive insect – the Asian long horned beetle. This beetle thought to have been transported here from China via wooden shipping pallets, first showed up in Brooklyn, New York in 1996. In August of 2008, the beetles were discovered a bit closer to home, in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Asian long horned beetles prefer maple trees, although they have infected others such as birch, ash, poplar, elm, willow and more. Maples play an integral role in NH. Not only do they provide some of the finest, sweetest maple syrup, but they offer the spectacular array of colors in fall which drive tourists to our state in droves -tourism that helps provide economic stability to businesses throughout the state.

Other nearby states understand the severity of this threat. Connecticut, Maine and Vermont are among states that have declared August, Asian long horned beetle awareness month. New Hampshire is hosting two separate awareness workshops, one in Manchester and one in Portsmouth. Click here for more details.

There is currently no cure, except to cut the infected trees down, chip and burn them. This could certainly be devastating to New Hampshire forests. Please be considerate, help us protect our forests - leave your firewood at home!

Posted by:Michele Penner

Cash for Clunkers and the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

2009-08-07T20:42:00Z

As I passed by Littleton Chevrolet one of our local car dealers, I couldn’t help but notice the large dumpster out front with the two “clunkers” in it. I love the visual, and I think its such an effective way to promote the Cash for Clunkers program. In fact I was going to take a picture of it, but the Associated Press beat me to it, and I saw one of Littleton Chevy’s sister dealerships - Springfield Auto Mart in the Wall Street Journal with their own dumpster and clunkers.

But I digress, what does the “Cash for Clunkers” program and the “First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit” have to do with each other. Well, they are of course both government stimulus programs, and they both seem to be having strong success.

We have some great information on how the $8000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit works and it’s easy to understand. But for both of these programs, time is of the essence. To qualify for the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, you need to have closed on your new home by November 30th. Since a closing can take 45 to 60 days, you will want to be looking now, and acting soon. We’re happy to aid you in your search, just give us a call.

By the way, I loved the dumpster idea at Littleton Chevrolet so much I called their Sales Manager Duane Coute and told him how effective I thought it was. Now if I could just think of something as effective to promote the $8000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit - perhaps I could move a home in front of our Franconia office, with a first time home buyer inside, and they can give tours discussing why they love homeownership…and how they are building equity in their home over the long term…how it’s more affordable to own a home now more than ever with lower prices and low interest rates. Ok, I could go on and on as to why owning is often times better than renting…but I have to go move a house, find a willing first time home buyer to be on display and get a house mover!

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

The Mountain Bean in Twin Mountain, NH

2009-08-07T17:13:00Z

Conveniently located on Route 3 in Twin Mountain in the Twin Village Plaza, the Mountain Bean is the perfect place to stop for breakfast or lunch. Warmly greeted by owners Christopher & Elizabeth Sparks, you may have a difficult time deciding on what to order.

For breakfast you have a choice of breakfast sandwiches served on English muffin, bagel or croissant. Or choose from their selection of bagels, muffins, croissants, scones, donuts or pastries. All goods baked fresh daily on premises. Of course there is a large selection of coffees and teas, with daily specials of brewed flavored coffees encouraging you to try something new!

Lunch time offers some delicious wraps and panini served on your choice of white, wheat, sun dried tomato or garlic & herb wraps. My favorite has been the “Old Man” which is roast beef, sharp cheddar cheese, horseradish mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato and red onion. There is usually another treat/dessert option tantalizing you right on the counter – whether it be fresh home baked cookies, brownies, cupcakes or the like.

The Mountain Bean offers a few tables, both inside and out, or take your order to go as you head out on your mountain hike, fishing adventure, day of canoeing, kayaking, or whatever adventure calls you to the White Mountains!

The Mountain Bean is clean, friendly and most of all DELICIOUS!

Posted by:Michele Penner

Northern NH and VT Real Estate Market Watch and Real Estate Tid-Bits

2009-08-07T16:45:00Z

Has the bottom hit? Are we at the bottom? We got an email the other day from a major newspaper looking for an answer to just that question – it is the question of the year, and one that we are trying to answer. Positive indicators are in the news, according to Bloomberg.com “Home prices posted their first monthly gain in three years in May, a gauge of values in 20 major U.S. cities showed, reinforcing signs of stabilization in a market hammered by the worst slump since the 1930s. The S&P/Case-Shiller home-price index rose 0.5 percent from April, the first monthly gain since July 2006 and biggest since May of that year…”

We are seeing more and more buyers come into the marketplace. Some are local folks who are looking to move up to a larger home, some are downsizing to accommodate their empty nest, and some are buying for the first time.

Brokers who are part of our affiliate organization, “Leading Real Estate Companies of the World” have been saying they were very busy, “busier than they have been in years” one reported. Are we all feeling the same energy I wondered? I pulled some stats from the Northern New England Real Estate Network, this is the twin state, Multiple Listing Service (MLS). One of the charts below shows the amount of inventory coming on the market. You will note that the inventory is starting to decrease since the beginning of summer, and the sales held at 37 for the month of July, which was the same as June. You will also note that the average selling price has decreased over the last few months, however, it is up from a low in March. So all in all, if inventory continues to shrink, and sales stay steady, we should begin to stabilize to a more expected pattern. Overall though, we believe this will be the year when people say, “I wish I had bought in 2009, the choices were many, the interest rates were low, and the prices low.” Don’t look back on 2009 as the year you should have bought a home. Let us help you now to realize your dream.

First Time Home Buyers: Time is running out to claim your $8000.00 Tax Credit!!!

We’ve been saying it for months, but this is a great time to buy, especially for First Time Home Buyers. The Federal First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of $8,000 is going to end on November 30th, and to qualify for the tax credit, you have to have your home closed by that date. Since it generally takes 45-60 days for a property to close, you need to start now. If you have a foreclosed or short sale property in your sites, the 45-60 days of closing can take even longer, so act now.

Tax Bill too high?

With the current real estate market in the state it’s at, and some property values decreasing from their peak, some local residents have gotten their tax bills, and have felt that their town is taxing them too much based on the current market value of their property compared to what they are assessed at. Before you go too far, you need to know what the

NH Town Equalization (or VT Town Equalization ) rate is, and apply that rate to your assessment to come up with the value the Town is taxing you on. Equalization rates over 100% account for a decline in value. For instance, if your property has an assessment of $150,000.00, and the equalization ratio is 120%, the town feels your property current value is $125,000.00. If this is still more than you feel the current market value, you can ask for a Tax Abatement from the town. To begin the tax abatement process, the property owner has to have received their final tax bill of the year and the application must be filed with their town by March 1st. The burden of proof falls on the taxpayer. If your abatement application is based on a disproportionate assessment, you have to show why. For this, you have to have the market value, and an equalized assessment rate. We are happy to help you with the abatement process, we can help compile the data for you, and help with your application. Feel free to call one of our agents, we offer this service at a reasonable flat rate fee.

Relocation Department: The Power of the Network is available to you for Free!

Just recently I saw a bumper sticker that said, “Think Globally, Act Locally”. While this is a great sticker discussing the environment, in this case it can come in handy for our clients who are relocating. Whether you are relocating to a warmer winter destination, or halfway around the globe, we can help identify, and interview real estate firms to help you find just the right match to assist you with your house hunting, or rental process. This is a service we offer, at no cost to you. We enjoy taking care of your real estate needs here in this area, and are pleased through our affiliates of “Leading Real Estate Companies of the World” to offer you similar services no matter where you end up.

Rental Department:

We offer a full service rental department in our offices handling long term rentals and we also handle short term rentals and vacation rentals. If you have a home or vacation property that you would be interested in renting out, please give our offices a call.

If you are looking to rent and have some specific needs, please feel to check out our rentals on our website, or call our offices for more information.

Need a Quick Closing? – Not so Fast!

Effective July 30th, new Federal regulations were enacted by the Fed called the Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act. The intent is to better inform consumers of the fees and costs associated with acquiring a mortgage, and avoid surprises at the closing. The new regulations require lenders to provide borrowers the Truth in Lending Disclosures at least 7 business days prior to closing. If anything changes in fees or the rate after you receive the TILD, the clock starts all over again. So plan ahead, and ask your Banker on the first meeting when they will be providing this critical form to you.

Posted by:Andrew Smith

A Brand New Sign for a 39 Year Old Business!

2009-07-30T15:21:00Z

As a marketing person, I often times get excited when I see a business doing something new, or innovative. Recently, on my way home I saw some sign posts going up at an established business in our area, but I realized, this was a business that had never had a sign. The business - Schofield’s Septic Service. Schofield’s is located on busy Route 302, just outside of Lisbon NH and they service septic systems all over the North Country of New Hampshire and beyond. I wondered, would this be a sign for them? A few days later, as my husband and I drove by, we both gasped when we saw what now appeared between the sign posts - a beautiful hand crafted wooden sign, with gold lettering - made especially for Schofield’s Septic. “Wow,” my husband said. “That is one beautiful sign. What a class act.” His words said it all, a class act. Schofield’s now had a beautiful sign to go with their always clean trucks that are precisely lined up in the yard in the evening, nice fence posts near the trucks, a nice yard. And Kevin Schofield’s sign got me to thinking, what a great statement he’s making. If you own a business in an field that not everyone talks about all the time, septic systems aren’t exactly cocktail conversation, what a way to say that you run a nice clean operation. One that you wouldn’t be embarrassed by when they come up your rural country road to pump your septic tank, or run a camera down the line, or have a NH certified septic system evaluation.

I called Kevin, I wanted to know more about this beautiful sign. He said he knew what he wanted and he found the right person to do it. He had a vision. The business was started by Kevin’s dad, Conrad in 1970 when he moved to the greater Littleton area. However, Conrad had worked for his father in Massachusetts, where they had a septic service that started in 1948. You can still find Conrad on the job sites and at the shop - I think he could probably tell you where tanks and systems are, just by memory. An amazing family, and an amazing sign.

If you ever need septic service, we have a number of great services around, including Schofield’s. Schofield’s can be reached at 603-838-6028 and by email at: schofieldseptic@roadrunner.com.

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

What Does a Retired Teacher Do After 32 Years?

2009-07-29T21:00:00Z

What does a retired teacher of 32 years ever do to fill her time after retirement? First start out with a new past-time, selling real estate for Peabody & Smith Realty with the main office in Littleton, NH. Be sure to check out the website. The newest office for Peabody & Smith Realty is right on Main St. in Plymouth NH and our territory is the Lakes and Mountains of New Hampshire which encompasses the entire central area of NH.

The listings and sales are keeping me busy and my teaching colleagues at Plymouth Regional High School have sent many clients my way. With still a couple hours left over in the week I have been able to get out and enjoy for myself in the many splenders that the Lakes and Mountains of central New Hampshire have to offer.

Sue’s first great adventure was rafting with two great kids, Kelly and Tyler and Outback Kayaks in North Woodstock. I paddled down the Pemigewasset River with eight of my close teacher friends. We went in our personal kayaks down the river on what was the first sunny day for the summer of 2009. All was fine until the first lady flipped her kayak in the fast set of rapids, with many sighs of relief and once the adrenaline relaxed we resumed paddling down the river. It seemed that every time we hit some rapids someone went over. By the time the third kayaker went over we were relaxed enough to at least laugh a little.

At the conclusion of the afternoon we left the river’s edge with too many bruises to count and stories about the , “one that we didn’t get through” to share with anyone that would listen for days on end. There were many perks on the maiden voyage, we saw two beautiful Blue Herrings on the sides of the river, and in flight. We also saw some bearutiful pieces of property that caught my eye. Just imagine a home on the beautiful Pemi River of NH. Check out this property that we have listed. Stay tuned for the next exciting chapter of “Sue’s First Retirement Summer” as we day trip to the zip line at Tenney Mountain in Plymouth, NH.

Posted by:Sue Sampson

Fishing in the Ammonoosuc River located in Downtown Littleton NH

2009-07-28T19:20:00Z

I am an avid fisherwoman, when I’m not working and for years I’ve been asking all my friends, why I never see anyone fishing in the Ammonoosuc River in downtown Littleton NH. Our Peabody & Smith office used to be on Main Street, and the river access wasn’t as easy as our new location, here at 11 Riverglen Lane, and I thought that perhaps I would get myself into the river and give it a try, but I still wondered why I hadn’t seen anyone fishing.

Finally, as I was leaving the office Friday night, my curiosity was met as I came out of our office. A young man was walking across the Littleton Bike Shop parking lot with pole in hand headed to the river bank. Well, it didn’t take any hesitation on my part to follow him (he might of thought I was stalking him for a second or two).

“Do you fish here often?” was my first question.

“Yes, fishing the Ammonoosuc River is good fishing, I catch Rainbow here and good sized.”

I stood watching, yes within a short few minutes he had his first fish, a rainbow trout. He pointed out several good points of entry, quick to say some of the rocks are slippery. Which is good to know because I have been known to land in the water a few times on slippery rocks. Me thinks, I will shortly try my luck between the bridges over the Ammonoosuc River, with a fly rod. With my curiosity quelled, while walking my dog Toby this week, we spent our time checking out a good point of entry to the river. Stay tuned for my personal fishing report!

Posted by:Joy Moore

65th Anniversay of the Monetary Conference at Bretton Woods, NH

2009-07-24T16:06:00Z

Yesterday marked the 65th anniversary of the United Nations Monetary & Financial Conference which set the groundwork for international monetary cooperation. This historic event attended by 730 delegates from 44 nations, was held at the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. The Resort was reportedly selected because its remote location offered seclusion and security was easily managed. Certainly the spectacular setting must have sealed the choice. It is hard to imagine the magnitude of such an event right in my own backyard! Not much has changed in 65 years. Today we still enjoy the same seclusion, security and breathtaking backdrop of Mount Washington, and the natural beauty of this area.

The Hotel is offering some unique specials to help commemorate the date. Click here to find out more.

Please visit our website to find properties currently available for sale at this historic resort.

Posted by:Michele Penner

Enjoy a Great Country Fair this Weekend at the North Haverhill Fair

2009-07-24T15:20:00Z

This weekend in lower Grafton County visitors and residents alike will flock to the North Haverhill Fair. The is the 65th year of the North Haverhill Fair and it is composed of all things you find at a fair – rides for the kids, farm animals, tractor pulls, arts and crafts, fried dough, vendor exhibits and much more.

As a family, we attend the fair each year and always have a delightful time. The fairgrounds are nice and clean, the price of admission is very fair, and it’s a nice time to get out and visit with friends and make new ones. Rain or shine, we always have a great time and my father drives 2 hours north each year to attend! It’s truly an eventful day and we never miss going to the North Haverhill Fair.

Wondering where North Haverhill is? North Haverhill is about 25 miles south of Littleton, NH, on Route 10 towards Hanover, NH. It is located along the Connecticut River, and just over the river is the state of Vermont. The town of Woodsville is a precinct of Haverhill, and is home to some big box stores, quaint shops, and more. With a population of 4,600 hundred people, the town is comprised of farms, lovely neighborhoods, rural sections and more. A nice feature about Haverhill, is you are only a 25 minute ride to Hanover NH, home of Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and you are only a 25 minute ride to Littleton, NH, the 9th best small town in America. So the town of Haverhill is made up of people who may work right in town, or may commute a bit, and come home to enjoy their home in Haverhill.

We have a renovated “green home” in Haverhill for sale, in Woodsville. The owners are known for green building, and this home is all about energy efficiency. It is situated on Park Street, near the Woodsville Elementary School . It is situated on a corner lot with southern exposure for passive solar heating. When they renovated the home, they kept the original charm by keeping the stained glass windows, tin ceiling and interior doors. There is a fuel efficient propane furnace, solar electric panels and more.

So this weekend, visit the North Haverhill Fair, the price of admission will even cover the concert on Friday night with John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band – remember their 80’s hit song, “On the Dark Side” from the movie Eddie and the Cruisers…and feel free to stop by, enjoy a ride around Haverhill and stop by and see the energy efficient home! Another great stop in Haverhill - the Windy Ridge Orchard – they are now in blueberry picking season! We’ll see you in Haverhill, NH!

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

Annual Hayseed Festival

2009-07-17T20:59:00Z

Are you planning a weekend getaway? Don’t miss the annual Hayseed Festival Sunday July 26th from 3-8 PM at the Gazebo on the Dow Field in Franconia, NH.

Bluegrass, Country and Folk music at it’s best with Food and Family outdoor fun. Bring your chairs, blanket and park yourself for the day in beautirul Franconia. There is a playground for the kids, river and majestic views to Franconia Notch and Lafayette. The Annual Hayseed Festival, don’t miss this memory making day.

Located just across from the Dow Gazebo is this fabulous 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo perfect for the skier, young professional or retired couple. Come be part of the “hub” of the Village and enjoy the turn key ownership of this newly updated and spacious condo!

Looking from the Bridge to Dow Field and Gazebo

From the front door looking to kitchen and dining room

Posted by:Beth Horan

The Village at Maplewood Condo Complex in Bethlehem, NH

2009-07-17T17:33:00Z

The Village at Maplewood (VAM) in Bethlehem, NH is an extraordinary condominium complex located “north of the notch” in the breath taking White Mountains of NH. Come enjoy the quiet setting at VAM that offers walking trails throughout, plentiful with green/common space and a rec center with a new indoor pool, hot tub, work out center and meeting room. Homeowners vary from full time/professionals to retirees and those that are passionate about vacationing here every free minute they can.

A beautifully appointed end unit town home with 3 full levels of living has an enhanced landscaping and yard area, hardwood floors, a beautiful oak mantel and a finished walkout lower level. Or maybe you’d prefer a 3 bedroom with unfinished walk out basement ready for you to finish off to suit your own needs. Also a 5 bedroom 3 level middle unit is large enough to accommodate lots of guests or have 2 families share.

In any of these townhouses you will find a 1st and 2nd floor master suite with private baths, large living room with a fireplace, and an open kitchen and dining area with lots of natural daylight shining in. Located just between Cannon Mountain/Franconia Notch State Park , Bretton Woods Ski Area and the Mt. Washington Hotel you’ll have your choice of areas to ski at, plentiful hiking and the White Mountains as your big back yard.

From the Village of Maplewood stroll to town and enjoy one of the most enjoyable dinners at the Chef owned Cold Mountain Cafe and then catch a free concert on the green. The farmers market at Wren has the most wonderful fresh produce, specialty foods and locally made gifts and art, not to mention how warm and wonderful the people are in this community.

The Village at Maplewood in Bethlehem, New Hampshire is definitely worth a look! Email me at beth@peabodysmith.com if you have any questions.

Posted by:Beth Horan

Ripley Falls Trail in Crawford Notch State Park

2009-07-16T21:18:00Z

If you are looking for a good, relatively easy hike for first timers, kids or just a quick hike with great rewards, Ripley Falls is the trail to try.

Located off of Route 302 East just past the Willey House on the right, you can park at the entrance and hike up the road, or drive on up closer to the trail head and park.

The sign indicates that Ripley Falls is a 20 minute hike one way and just about a half mile in length. The time frame is fairly conservative for hiking non-stop, but a good gauge. The trail starts out crossing over the Conway Scenic Railroad tracks and then heads into the woods and up the trail. It is a bit rocky in spots, and moderately steep, but still quite manageable. Should you be feeling a bit more adventurous, there are other longer and more difficult trails just a tenth of a mile in, however, Ripley’s is well worth the hike. The trails are easily identified, but if ever in doubt just follow the blue tree markers. With all the rain we have had, the trail mid-July was still quite muddy in spots, so be sure and wear an old pair of sneakers if you don’t have hiking boots.

If it is a warm day, you will want to spend lots of time at the top, dangling your feet in the pools of water, and enjoying the sight and sounds of the spectacular 100 foot waterfall. Be sure and pack a picnic lunch to enjoy. We hiked a bit later in the day, so we chose to reward ourselves with an ice cream cone at the Willey House! Definitely worth the trip!

Posted by:Michele Penner

The Mt. Washington Auto Road and the Stay-Cation in the White Mountains

2009-07-14T19:52:00Z

The stay-cation this summer is certainly something our family is enjoying. With an infant, we decided we’d take day trips to area attraction in our own backyard – this past weekend’s adventure was the Mt. Washington Auto Road.

As a life long resident of Northern New Hampshire, I had never been to the top of Mt. Washington – embarrassing to say the least! Each summer I would say we’ll go and never do – so finally we went this past weekend.

We took Route 302 through Crawford Notch to Glen, NH and traveled through Pinkham Notch to the Mt. Washington Auto Road entrance. My husband said I would hate it because of my fear of heights…I wondered if I’d be able to make it also. We started up the 8 mile road to the top – great views the whole way. I took a plethora of photos, shot some video and turn arounded to the back seat many times to pick up toys our baby had dropped. The weather was clear all the way up. We got to above tree line, and shortly after around mile marker 7, we experienced fog and couldn’t even see the Mt. Washington Cog Railway car a mere 100 feet away – we could only hear it. We ate our lunch and drove the rest of the way to the top, figuring that perhaps we wouldn’t see a thing. As soon as we pulled into the parking log the fog cleared and the views were 360 degrees around, we definately saw Canada, and five states. It was simply amazing, and more than I ever expected.

We went all around the Mt. Washington Observatory, visited the Tip Top House, watched the Mt. Washington Cog Railway train head back down the mountain. We saw a whole bunch of hikers who had made their way to the top, we saw visitors from many countries, and we even saw a few people we knew! We left after spending 2 hours at the top, my 7 year old called it “awesome” and gave it 2 thumbs up. We traveled the eight miles back down, in first gear as they recommend and we didn’t experience any problems. Again, great views all the way down.

We traveled home by way of Gorham on Route 16 then went towards Jefferson, NH and ended up back on Route 302 in Twin Mtn/Bretton Woods NH.

All in all it was an amazing experience, and by the way, even with my fear of heights, I wasn’t scared at all! The stay-cation is great, and it makes me realize how much there is to do in the Western White Mountains of New Hampshire, and frankly, how glad I am to live here. Next week? Perhaps Whale’s Tale Water Park, or StoryLand or Santa’s Village….or perhaps we’ll take a trip up the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway! Whatever it is, we’ll have fun here in the White Mountains, attractions abound in our own backyard! To find out more about some of the area’s attractions, visit White Mountain Attractions; they have a great site and full of useful information.

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

Golf at the Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods

2009-07-10T20:28:00Z

I promised myself (and my husband) that the next sunny day that came around I would take off and we would play a round of golf at the newly renovated course at the Mount Washington Resort. We have the pleasure of living at the resort, so the course is readily available to us. I just had not been able to coordinate any days off with a cooperative Mother Nature!

Fortunately there was a break in the weather the other day and we quickly packed up at the office and headed over to the course. I had yet to swing a club this season and was anxious to get out there. I probably should have spent some time on the driving range before getting on the course, but it was an absolutely beautiful afternoon and because it was midweek and later in the afternoon, we had no one behind us.

There are two courses available at the resort – The Mount Washington Course, which is an 18-hole course on the back side of the Hotel, and The Mount Pleasant Course which is a 9-hole course situated in front of the Hotel. We opted to play the Mount Washington Course. The resort completed renovations on this Donald Ross course last August, and we only had the chance to play it a handful of times last season. While my play was not pretty, the course on the other hand is a thing of beauty. The back drop of the majestic Mount Washington on your way out, and the beautiful grand hotel on your way back in, is just breathtaking. One would almost forget why they were out there…. Perhaps I should have, might have improved my game!

To find out what resort properties are available, please click here.

Posted by:Michele Penner

AHEAD Workshop this Thursday - Homebuying in Today's Market

2009-07-07T15:44:00Z

We are getting ready to pull some market data for the Central NH/Plymouth NH real estate market to use Thursday night during a presentation I’m giving for AHEAD. AHEAD stands for Affordable Housing, Education and Development and they are part of the national NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center. They are based out of Littleton but cover Northern and Central NH, its a great organization and one that we are proud to work with.

This Thursday, July 9th from 6-8 pm AHEAD will sponsor a free workshop with AHEAD called, “Homebuying in Today’s Market”. Some topics will include a look at current market conditions, how to negotiate a good deal, how it works when you purchase foreclosed and bank owned property and how real estate is an asset. We presented this workshop a few weeks ago in Littleton, NH and due to its success, this one will be in another AHEAD service area, in Plymouth, NH. We’ll be meeting at the Pease Public Library, 1 Russell Street, Plymouth NH. If you are interested in attending you can register online or call 603-444-1377. The workshop is free but they ask that you pre-register so they can get a head count.

I hope to see you Thursday night in Plymouth. If there are any specifics questions you would like addressed, please feel free to send them to me at andy@peabodysmith.com.

Posted by:Andrew Smith

Our Customer Appreciation BBQ Was Fun - Thanks for Attending

2009-07-06T19:48:00Z

We had a great time at our Customer Appreciation BBQ on Friday, July 3rd. We served over 160 hot dogs and 150 hamburgers and had well over 200 people in attendance. We had a little bit of rain (well a bit of a downpour), but that didn’t seem to dampen any spirits! In fact, more people came after the rain. Thanks for attending, we appreciate all your support and look forward to seeing you through the year and helping with any real estate needs you may have.

All in all, our bar-b-que marked the start of a beautiful weekend in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. On Saturday the 4th, the town of Franconia held their annual Old Home Days sponsored by the Lions Club, which is always the 1st Saturday in July. They had a pancake breakfast, parade through the Main Street of Franconia, fireworks at dusk and music at the gazebo. If you missed it this year, save the date for next year - its a great time in the Franconia area.

Posted by:Andrew Smith

Landaff NH Moose Sighting and Our One Room School House

2009-07-06T18:30:00Z

Just the other night, as I was heading out to our Littleton Rotary Club annual meeting, I spotted this very small moose just 15 feet of the main road leading out of Landaff NH. Landaff is where I live, a lovely town of 300 residents and the home of the “Blue School”, our one room school house. The school has been operating for 151 years and is still educating Landaff students in grades k-3 and has a full time teacher Claire Cochrane, who this year was nominated for the NH 2009 Teacher of the Year.

In Landaff you can find great residents all with diverse backgrounds from all over the world, and sometimes you can see moose. This was the smallest one I’ve ever seen, the size of a very small horse and he was about 15 feet off the road. Sometimes in this mud bog you’ll find much larger moose, however, I haven’t seen him yet and I hope I don’t if he’s in the road.

In terms of land, Landaff is comprised mainly of the White Mountain National Forest, but the part that isn’t is full of farms, meadows, forest, and homes dotted through the landscape. Its an active community with a busy Grange, who hold public socials in the winter. We also have the Friends of Landaff, a civic group that raises money for different causes, and the big event in Landaff is the Old Home Day Auction which takes place the 3rd Saturday in August and benefits our all volunteer fire department.

Every now and then we have some homes for sale in Landaff you can see some of them here. Am I passionate about Landaff? You bet! I love my town! The North Country of New Hampshire is a great place to live and work, come see for yourself.

Now, if this moose wanted to relocate to another area out of our real estate territory, I could find he or she an agency in another town - an agency that is like our own - and part of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. The moose would just have to let me know, or tell their agent and then I can help!

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

We've Got the Tent Up for the Customer Appreciation BBQ

2009-07-02T17:38:00Z

Well the tent is up and we are getting ready for our Customer Appreciation BBQ tomorrow night at our Franconia Office. The tent rising used to take us a good hour, but after six years of this we are getting to be experts. Just half an hour. The rain was a bit drizzly as we were putting it up, but we’re hoping for good weather tomorrow! Feel free to stop by and enjoy a hamburger or hot dog, some salad, a beverage or two and some delicious cake! Its always a great time to visit with friends and make new friends. Come join us 4-7 pm, 383 Main Street, Franconia NH.

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

The Spa at the Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods NH

2009-06-30T19:07:00Z

I have been meaning to get over to the new Resort Spa, which opened in November, for some time now. My husband had given me a gift certificate to enjoy a treatment, but it was one of those things that I just hadn’t found the time for.

It was my daughter’s 19th birthday and I decided a day at the spa would be a perfect gift – one that we both could enjoy! We arrived, as requested, a half hour before our treatments. We were greeted at the reception desk and were escorted back to the Ladies Lounge. We signed in and then were given a tour of the facilities available to us including locker and changing areas, showers, sauna & steam rooms, lounge area to relax before and after treatments and an outdoor hot tub. This spa facility is by far, the most elegant; warm & inviting, calm and relaxing spa I have ever visited. The women’s lounge is absolutely beautiful - warmed with soothing sea blue and beige tones.

I opted for the Mount Washington Signature Body Ritual as my first treatment. While I had no real idea of what this involved, I thought exfoliation and re-hydration sounded like just what the doctor ordered after the seemingly endless winter we had this year. What an experience this was! Definitely two thumbs up!

I met my daughter back in the Ladies Lounge where she looked as relaxed as I felt. She had just come from an aroma massage which sounded equally wonderful. We had a chance to sit and relax in the ladies lounge, enjoying a glass of water or two and basking in the state of total relaxation for a bit before we were off to our next treatments. Another 75 minutes of sheer bliss with a re-hydrating facial!

I highly recommend a visit to the Spa! I would suggest you do not plan ANY activity afterwards! Bring a book, go with a friend, spend a few hours after your treatment relaxing in the lounge, or if the weather permits, outside by the hot tub. You definitely want to give your body time to get back up to speed!

I am certain that this is the best birthday gift I have ever given and the best gift I have ever received!

To find out what properties are available that will put you just minutes away from all the amenities available at the resort please visit our website

Posted by:Michele Penner

It's the Peabody & Smith Customer Appreciation BBQ and You're Invited

2009-06-30T16:58:00Z

It’s our annual Customer Appreciation BBQ this Friday night from 4-7 pm at our Franconia, NH office. While we have this in Franconia, it’s open to all our clients and customers from all of our offices - this space in Franconia has the biggest lawn! Stop by and enjoy something from the grill, a beverage, cake and more. Its a great time and every year we serve 200 or more people. So stop by, we’d love to see you!

Posted by:Chrissy Smith

Commercial buildings sold in St. Johnsbury, VT

2009-06-29T20:15:00Z

We had the pleasure last week of closing a commercial complex on Eastern Avenue in St. Johnsbury. Windhorse Commons, located at 105-107 EasternAvenue transferred ownership on Tuesday from Windhorse Commons Development Company, LLC to Laurence Rossi of Woodbury, Vermont.

The three buildings are all historically significant, and one building is completely leased. We are pleased to be handling the leasing of the rest of the property, which includes some professional office space and one of the other buildings lends itself to restaurant possibilities. We would be pleased to show the property to interested parties.

This was a great opportunity to sell such a truly unique property. Windhorse Commons is a cluster of three architecturally unique properties in the heart of St. Johnsbury, VT. The offering included three buildings, The Carriage House, Octagon Building and The Annex. All the buildings were well maintained and lovingly updated to preserve the beautiful old world charm while offering all the modern amenities. The site also has plenty of on site parking and within easy walking distance to St. Jay’s Business District, The Catamount Theater, St Johnsbury Academy, and other attractions.

In the last ten months, this sale represents that we have sold $3,250,000 of commercial property in the downtown St. Johnsbury area. This sale involved all of our commercial brokers, Mary Doherty, Steve Horan and myself.

We have a dedicated Commercial Department that consists of three broker/sales associates and is based out of our Franconia, NH office. We focus on the sale and lease of commercial properties throughout New Hampshire and Vermont and also specialize in business brokerage throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. To see our current commercial properties, visit us here.

To learn more about downtown St. Johnsbury and the area, visit this great website from Downtown St. Johnsbury.

Posted by:Andrew Smith