Beginner's Guide to New Hampshire

The White Mountains

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 19:44:45 +0000

Moving into the most naturally scenic part of New Hampshire, the White Mountains center around Mount Washington, towering in at 6,288 feet. The White Mountain National Forest is comprised of 773,000 acres, over 100 waterfalls, and an amazingly extensive network of hiking trails, some dating back to the 19th century.

The White Mountains offer scenic drives rivaling any in the country. I-93 passes through the magnificent Franconia Notch, while Route 302 takes visitors through Crawford Notch, Bethlehem, and Littleton. The prize, however, goes to the Kancamagus Highway. The sweeping mountain outlooks along the 34-mile roadway are unparalleled.

The commercial center of the White Mountains is North Conway. This is where you can gas up your car and gather provisions for your trek into the forest. It is home to endless motels, for travelers looking for low-cost lodging in this part of the state. North Conway is also home to a couple of major outlet centers if browsing the racks is just as appealing to you as browsing the trails.

The White Mountains are also home to great skiing. Some of the best areas are Cannon Mountain, Loon Mountain and Waterville Valley. Mount Cranmore is the oldest working ski area in all of New England. New Hampshire also has numerous cross-country ski centers, offering tidy trails in all skill levels.

The Great North Woods

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 19:45:17 +0000

For those annoyed by leaf-watching crowds in the White Mountains, the Great North Woods may provide the escapism you are looking for. Far less commercial and extremely rugged, New Hampshire’s northernmost region is built for the adventurous. Dixville Notch State Park offers hiking trails, while canoeing and camping can be found at UmBagog Lake State Park. Cyclists love the roads around the town of Errol. The Great North Woods is also home to one of the few 19th century New England resorts still in operation, Balsams Grand Resort Hotel.

Visiting New Hampshire

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 19:45:51 +0000

For its relatively small amount of landmass, New Hampshire is wonderfully diverse. Few states can offer its visitors a coastline, cosmopolitan city life, quaint old towns and picturesque mountains. New Hampshire truly has something for everyone.

Like other parts of New England, traveling in New Hampshire is highly seasonal. Many facilities, attractions, and even restaurants and inns are closed during the winter months. Always call ahead to make sure your destination is open for business.

New Hampshire Real Estate Overview

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 19:46:57 +0000

According to many experts in the real estate industry, New Hampshire is one of the hottest housing markets in the country right now. Much of the reason stems from New Hampshire’s combination of low unemployment, low crime rates, and quality education. It has been, and continues to be, a very desirable place to live.

New Hampshire’s diverse geography provides beach access and coastal villages, lake resort living, and rugged cabins with outstanding mountain views. The numerous charming towns provide the slower paced New England-style life that some city-dwellers crave, which is one reason many are packing their bags and making New Hampshire their home.

The researching/publishing outfit of Morgan Quitno recently declared New Hampshire to be the nation’s “most livable state,” a distinction they received for the third year in a row. New Hampshire also ranks as the second healthiest state and is among the top five safest states. While these distinctions are great news for residents, they have caused the price of real estate to rise in New Hampshire, and now there are growing concerns about the lack of affordable housing.

Between 1993 and 2003, New Hampshire’s population grew by a staggering 14.7%, and some statistics estimate an additional 7.5% growth by 2010. This level of growth raises concerns in regard to available housing. Many of the larger cities are comprised of older and expensive historic homes. Most of the new housing is available in the outer lying areas.

Portsmouth, Coastal New Hampshire, and Rochester

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 19:48:23 +0000

Given its resort status and tourist cache, real estate in Portsmouth, New Hampshire is fairly expensive. A two-bedroom/one-bath condominium can easily reach the $200,000 range. A three-bedroom ranch-style home can start at $275,000. Period-style homes typically start in the $500,000 range and coastal homes easily top $1,000,000. There is new construction in the nearby city of Epping offering three bedroom homes in the $300,000 range. Orchard View is one such neighborhood.

Rochester is located in southeastern New Hampshire, just north of Portsmouth. With a population of almost 31,000, Rochester is the largest city in the seacoast region and fourth largest city in New Hampshire. Rochester is sometimes referred to as the Lilac City because of its acres of lilacs that bloom in the spring. Small historic homes can be found in the mid $200s and new construction homes with three bedrooms can be found in the mid $300,000 range.

Nashua

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 19:49:45 +0000

Nashua is the second largest city in New Hampshire, and the city and the surrounding region combined number close to 175,000 people. It has all the urban amenities, yet the charm of the traditional New England landscape. The combination of an excellent quality of life and proximity to Boston, the seacoast, and the White Mountains makes Nashua an attractive growth center for New England. The average home selling price in 2005 was $257,577.

In the nearby town of Londonberry is Haywood Heights, a 23-lot new construction neighborhood in the low $400s. Also in Londonberry are the neighborhoods of Pillsbury Ridge and Nottingham of Londonberry II.

Manchester and Concord

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 19:50:18 +0000

Manchester is New Hampshire’s largest city, and one of the best options for affordable housing. Three-bedroom homes can be found for under $200,000. Many of the homes are older, built in the 1950s or before. New construction can be found in Walnut Terrace, Federal Pointe, and Legacy Heights.

Derry, New Hampshire is a growing area outside of Manchester. New neighborhoods include Walnut Heights priced in the low to mid $400,000s.

Housing in Concord is similar to Manchester.Two-bedroom/one-bathroom homes can be found in the $150,000 range, while three-bedroom homes can be found around $200,000. Some of the homes are historic, with construction in the 1890s. The Vineyards of Concord is a new town home neighborhood featuring three bedroom homes with large master suites, full basements, and garages. It is a swim/tennis community with walking trails. Prices start in the low $200,000 range.

The city of Franklin is about 20 minutes north of Concord. You can find new homes in the mid $200s. Glen Meadows is an example.

The Monadnock Region

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 19:51:02 +0000

Southwestern New Hampshire is referred to as the Monadnock Region. It is full of rural beauty and vital, growing villages. The anchor city of Keene is located here. Jaffrey, Marlboro and Peterborough are all within view of Mount Monadnock, the central point in the area landscape. Historic villages like Rindge, Walpole, Chesterfield, Westmoreland, Dublin, Francestown, and Fitzwilliam are also located here. Many larger historic homes are available in this area for under $200,000.

The Cornish Region and Laconia

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 19:52:00 +0000

Lebanon is the largest city in the Cornish region, which encompasses Hanover (home of Dartmouth College), Newport, Claremont, and Lake Sunapee. Homes range from older two-bedrooms under $150,000 to lakefront homes well over one million.

Housing in Hanover is fairly expensive, with three-bedroom homes selling for more than $300,000. Homes on the Connecticut River are typically at least $500,000. There is also expensive new construction in Hanover in the $700,000 range.

Laconia, New Hampshire is the largest city near the tourist heavy Lakes Region. You can find three-bedroom homes under $200,000. In 2005, the average selling price for homes in Laconia was $268,502. Laconia offers some multi-million dollar lakefront properties and reasonable offerings with beach access in the $200,000’s. Additionally there are updated town-homes, condominiums and newly constructed single-family homes.

The White Mountain and The Great North Woods

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 19:53:12 +0000

The bulk of the real estate market in the White Mountains and the Great North Woods centers on vacation homes and luxury rental properties. The bustling hubs of Conway and North Conway provide the primary options for homebuyers. Luxury estates easily reach the $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 mark. Many of these are historic homes perfectly suited for conversion to an inn or bed-and-breakfast.

The Great North Woods, sometimes called the North Country, features rural splendor and some outstanding real estate values. This region of New Hampshire includes Lancaster, Berlin, Milan, Dixville Notch, Colebrook and the area north to the Canadian border. Berlin is the area’s largest city, and three bedroom homes can be found there for under $100,000.

Choosing a Real Estate Agent in New Hampshire

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 19:54:04 +0000

If you are considering a move to New Hampshire, ask your friends and family if they know anyone who has purchased a home in the area. Perhaps you can find a real estate agent referral through them. If you have no connections to the area, consider a reputable nationwide real estate firm such as Coldwell Banker or Remax. They will assign an agent to you.

The Internet is an amazing source of information regarding the New Hampshire real estate market. You can search by city, region, price range, and house details (number of bedrooms, lot size, etc.). When you are choosing the area in which to purchase a home, you should also research county taxes, schools, and local government.

Once you have an agent to work with, clearly communicate your wants and needs with them. Be firm about your price range and your non-negotiable points (such as location, basements, yard size, number of bedrooms, etc.). Know the areas in which you are willing to compromise. Unless your budget is unlimited, there is almost always a need to be flexible on certain points. Know yourself and your needs well enough to identify where you can bend and where you must remain firm. Many wonderful homes can be found in the area, and a good real estate agent will work with you until you are comfortably moved into your new New Hampshire residence.

New Hampshire Real Estate

Wed, 02 Aug 2006 19:39:22 +0000

New Hampshire Hotels and Accomodations

Wed, 02 Aug 2006 19:44:43 +0000

New Hampshire Restaurants & Activities

Wed, 02 Aug 2006 19:47:22 +0000

New Hampshire in One to Three Days

Wed, 02 Aug 2006 19:50:10 +0000

Beginner's Guide to New Hampshire

The White Mountains

The Great North Woods

Visiting New Hampshire

New Hampshire Real Estate Overview

Portsmouth, Coastal New Hampshire, and Rochester

Nashua

Manchester and Concord

The Monadnock Region

The Cornish Region and Laconia

The White Mountain and The Great North Woods

Choosing a Real Estate Agent in New Hampshire

New Hampshire Real Estate

New Hampshire Real Estate Overview

Portsmouth, Coastal New Hampshire, and Rochester

Nashua

Manchester and Concord

New Hampshire Hotels and Accomodations

New Hampshire Hotels and Accomodations Overview

The Seacost

The Merrimack Valley

The Monadnock Region

New Hampshire Restaurants & Activities

The Seacost

The Merrimack Valley

The Monadnock Region

The Cornish Region, Hanover, and Lake Sunapee Region

New Hampshire in One to Three Days

New Hampshire in One to Three Days Overview

Itinerary 1: The Seacost

Itinerary 2: Concord to the Lakes Region

Itinerary 3: The White Mountains