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I’d like to take a second to discuss what everyone else has been discussing, this amazing weather! While quite unexpected, these beautiful days and mild nights have been so welcome for this non-skier (shh!). I spent all weekend outside with my kids, and got a taste of what this summer will bring. We decided to take a trip to Schouler Park on Sunday, and maybe it was the weather or maybe it was the Blue Moon I had at Horsefeathers, but my body was tingling with excitement and appreciation for this great town. After about an hour playing at the park, we were all pretty hot and hungry, so we decided to grab a bite to eat and cool off inside for a few minutes. We walked the short walk from the park up the street to Horsefeathers, and I took the opportunity to glance around. I saw a group of college aged kids tossing around a football in the park, a young couple playing with their dog, a small band shaking tambourines and beating on hand drums without a care in the world outside of The Met, families in and out of Zeb’s opening their favorite childhood candy…there was this buzz in the air that only comes with those first few glorious spring days. The days when everyone is happy and high on Vitamin D, and when it isn’t hot enough yet to be uncomfortable. It can be so easy to just ignore all of this as I pass by in my car every day on the way to work, so to have this opportunity to slow down and remember North Conway as I saw it when I was a kid was good for my soul! Sound amazing? Are you ready to take a look for yourself? I urge you to spend a spring day walking around North Conway Village and just take it all in.

With ski season finishing up this weekend, it is easy to start thinking about summer and your summer plans. I know this year I plan on spending a lot of time at my family’s private beach on the Saco! Have you always wanted a waterfront property to call your own? Could this be the summer that you finally take the leap? Check out what Joy has to say about Conway Lake and contact us today to take a look. It is only March, you still have a couple of months to find your dream waterfront home and still be able to move in and enjoy it this summer! Or do you find yourself already aching for next ski season? We still have slopeside inventory, and the time to buy is now!

Cheers!

I read this article today on one of my favorite real estate blogs, The Zebra Blog and it really hit home for me. Sometimes in the world of real estate it is easy to get caught up in numbers and emails and negotiations and forget about what this business really is. This is people, human beings, selling their homes. The place where they watched their children grow up, or brought their spouse on vacation, or waved to their kids from as they skied down the trail. These properties that we swoop in and determine a value for are of course important to us, but not nearly as important as they are to you. While every piece of the puzzle is important, from taking photos of a new listing to coordinating a closing, every once in awhile it is necessary to take a step back evaluate how the most important part of the puzzle is doing, YOU. Because without these people, without you, we wouldn’t be where we are today. You are the most important part of what we do, and if you aren’t happy, then we probably won’t be hearing from you again. We are always open to feedback from our clients, or potential clients, about what we could be doing that would make this sometimes daunting process easier on you, the one that for whatever reason, is selling their home. Our door, and our ears, are always open.

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Happy New Year! With 2012 right around the corner (just a few hours away)! I thought it time to think about some of the best ways to engage with the real estate market this coming year.  I came up with 8 great ideas to inspire you to action!

Buy your first home

If you are ready to buy your first home now is the time.  I would even go so far as to say that if you are ready stop reading this article right now and start searching or contact us.  Great prices and record low interest rates combine to make this the very best time to get started on home ownership.  The Buyers section of our website has some great resources.  And searching on JtRealty.com is simple and easy.  Don’t forget to register so you can save your searches and receive the notifications you choose with no obligation.

Become a real estate agent

For the go-getter, there is always money to be made in real estate!  Start now building your contacts and be in position to capitalize on any market changes. For more information on how to start your real estate career head over to the Careers section of JtRealty.com.

Take advantage of a 1031 Tax-deferred exchange

If you have been maintaining your rental property for some time now you may be losing margin.  Put the tax advantages of a 1031 exchange to work for you to acquire a more valuable rental property. Interested?  Check out these NH multifamily units for sale right now.  If you want to learn more about the advantages of a 1031 exchange you can connect with one of our preferred 1031 exchange vendors.

Buy your first investment property

So the 1031 exchange doesn’t apply to you because you don’t own a rental property? Make 2012 the year to change that.  With great prices and a selection of available income properties you can get started letting someone else pay for your investment!

Buy that lakefront property you have always dreamed of

Living in a lakefront home is a goal for many.  Start early and you could be enjoying the lake by summer, just dive in!  Or if you prefer rivers you might try a riverfront property.  With much to choose from you are sure to satisfy that dream.

Buy a ski condo

We just added four Attitash Mountain condos to our best buy page!  There are so many good deals on ski condos right now you have an amazing selection.  Make this the year you can simply ski home at the end of the day! On top of the great real estate available at the local ski areas Trip Advisor just ranked the North Conway as the most affordable ski destination in the Northeast and second in the US overall! Search for Attitash Condos or Mount Cranmore condos right here.

Trade up

With so many properties on the market right now, many people feel it is the wrong time to sell their home.  This may not be true at all.  While many properties are available, the right property at the right price will always move quickly.  If you have been in your home for a few years you may be able to take advantage of all that is available on the market right now.  At the very least it can’t hurt to look! Start your search today.

Renovate

This is the approach I often take.  Renovations add not only financial value to your home, they also add enjoyment value.  No matter how long you have been in your home, there is always something on the wish list.  In my house right now the wish is new countertops.  Whatever your wish, if you put a plan together now, you can start sooner.  Winter is a great time for many renovations as contractors can be less busy, giving you more attention and possibly a better price.  If you are the handy sort then break out the tools while the weather is cold. You can check our preferred contractors for a start on your project or look into other JtRealty preferred vendors under the About Us section above.

Ryan the Realtor Explains it All —

Many homes in the Mt. Washington Valley do not have the luxury of public sewage and clients often have genuine questions surrounding the systems that keep a happy home. Forgive the crude expression, but “it” really does flow down hill, 1” per linear foot to be more precise. Understanding your septic system is important because neglect can become costly and environmentally unpleasant.

From Underneath the House to the Ground

I am fortunate to have intimate knowledge of my plumbing and crawl space – I wouldn’t wish this upon my worst enemies. However, curious home owners should note the 4” PVC discharge pipe that collects both black and gray water that exits from the house. What then? Does it go straight into the ground? Well yes it does, but not exactly. See the image below of a standard 1,000 gallon concrete tank for a 3 bedroom home.

Common Misconceptions:

Septic tanks are buried 1’ – 2” below the ground and not difficult to locate if you can find your discharge pipe. Standard tanks have three lids or openings to access the contents and remove. See below misconceptions that surround a working septic system.

1.  You should see effluent water in your tank because new water replaces the old as it moves into the drain field. A proper system is never empty.
2. Solid material does decompose via bacteria and nitrogen but not at the rate a 3 -5 person household will produce – your home or vacation home should be pumped every two to three years to be
   safe.
3. Grease and / or laundry detergent, such as Tide, will compromise the effectiveness of your system and natural break down of solids.
4. Putting your septic system under a driveway is a bad idea – avoid if at all possible to keep heavy trucks from crushing your drain pipes.

Where does the effluent go?

After leaving your septic tank through a baffle, the liquid enters a series of perforated pipes that leaches the waste into the ground. Underneath each pipe is a layer of crushed rock and sand to assist in the drain process. See image below:

 Need Septic Installation, Repair, or Upgrades? Contact Ryan@JtRealty.com  for a list of local service people who can install, repair, and or maintain
your septic system in Mt. Washington Valley –

My father has owned a Christmas Tree Farm for as long as I can remember. I know what you are thinking, that we must have had the most beautiful, full, lush tree every year. WRONG. Those are for paying customers! Much to my mother’s chagrin, we spent several Christmas Eves rushing out to the yard to see what was left for us to set up and quickly decorate before Santa made his way down the chimney. After I left home and set out on my own, I learned fast that in the real world, trees aren’t free. So what does any spoiled daughter do? She asks Daddy to ship one to her tiny Rhode Island apartment! This worked out for a few years until I decided I wanted a tree taller than the UPS box limit of 5 feet. I set off to Home Depot with some rope and dreams of a 7 foot tree. When I saw the prices, I admit, I thought about purchasing an artificial tree (a sin punishable by death in my family) so I wouldn’t have to do this every year. I changed my mind when I realized it just wouldn’t feel like the holidays without that amazing real tree scent! Does the thought of spending money on something that grows naturally have you thinking about alternate routes? Please read on to see why natural is still the way to go:

In the words of the National Christmas Tree Association:

• Artificial trees are a petroleum based product that consume vast resources during fabrication. A burden to the environment, artificial trees aren’t biodegradable and will remain in land-fills for centuries after disposal. The average life span of an artificial tree is only six years.
• Real Christmas trees are a benefit to the environment from the time they are planted until after the holiday season when they can be recycled.
• Real Christmas trees provide oxygen to the atmosphere while they are growing.
• Every acre of Christmas trees grown produces the daily oxygen requirement for 18 people.
• Christmas trees are biodegradable – the trunk and branches can be used as mulch for gardens, parks or in animal stalls. The mulch provides a protect barrier for the roots of other plants and vegetation while preventing weeds from growing. The mulch then decomposes, providing the nutrients plants need to thrive.

And here are some tips for choosing and caring for your real tree:

• Do a freshness test. Gently grasp a branch between your thumb and forefinger and pull it toward you. Very few needles should come off in your hand if the tree is fresh. Shake or bounce the tree on its stump. You should not see an excessive amount of green needles fall to the ground.
• Once you’ve chosen your tree, keep it in a sheltered, unheated area such as a porch or garage to protect it from the wind and sun until you are ready to decorate it.
• Before you set up your tree, make a fresh, straight cut across the base of the trunk (about a quarter inch up from the original cut) and place the tree in a tree stand that holds a gallon of water or more. I also like to stir sugar in to the first water I give the tree.
• A tree will absorb as much as a gallon of water or more in the first 24 hours and one or more quarts a day thereafter. Water is important because it prevents the needles from drying and dropping off and the boughs from drooping. Water also keeps the tree fragrant.
• Keep your tree away from heat and draft sources like fireplaces, radiators and television sets. Test your light cords and connections before hanging them on the tree to make sure they’re in good working order. You don’t want to use cords with cracked insulation or broken or empty sockets. Also be sure to unplug the lights before you go to bed or leave the house.

This holiday season, in continuation with my quest to educate you on the benefits of “Going Green”, I encourage you to skip over the artificial and get real! Not sure what to put under the tree this year? How about the keys to a gorgeous second home? Contact us today!

Unfortunately, even with the best intentions, things don’t always go as planned during every real estate transaction. Problems can arise that are out of everyone’s control. What can make or break the deal is how the problems are dealt with. With this in mind, we would like to extend a big thank you to Wendy Olson, of Residential Mortgage Services, Inc., who has taken a difficult deal with many complications with ease. She has been persistent with follow up and stayed professional and extremely helpful all along. Thank you for all of your help and patience Wendy, it has been a pleasure! Please visit http://www.rmsmortgage.com/wendyolson/ for all of your mortgage needs.

About two years ago, I decided that it was time for my family to buy a home. We were planning a move back to the area, and felt that the time was right to start looking. We started by driving around the Lovell and Fryeburg area looking for For Sale signs. There were plenty! I continued my search online until I found it. The perfect house! A three bedroom, two bathroom, new cape on 5 acres in Sweden, Maine. It was adorable. We loved everything about it. The price was a little higher than what we wanted, but it has been on the market for a year and a half with no serious interest, so we decided to make a rather low offer. We impatiently waited all day to hear back and finally got the phone call we had been waiting for. Unfortunately, as luck would have it, another couple had made a higher offer the same day, and it was accepted. I was devastated. Tears were shed, and I gave up the search, thinking I would never find a house I wanted as much.

Then one morning a few months later, I got a text message from my mom. It was a picture of a little cape very similar to the first one! It was right in Fryeburg, making it much more convenient than the first location, and it was not finished yet, which meant that we could choose appliances and flooring! We were still living in NY at the time, so I asked my mom if she would go and look at it with my father and let me know what their thoughts were. (In reality, I didn’t want to go and fall in love all over again unless I knew it could happen.) They went on a showing and took several pictures for me. When I went through the photos, I just knew that this was it. We made an offer without even seeing it in person! Now we have lived there since May of 2010, and couldn’t be happier! The location is amazing, and it was really great to be able to choose the finishes and make it ours. The moral of the story? Sometimes a deal falling through can be a blessing in disguise, leading you to something better in the long run, so don’t be discouraged! Have you ever had a housing deal go awry? Did you “just know” when you found your home? Are you on the hunt for the perfect place? Tell me your story!

Did you know that around 43% of your electric bill goes to heating and cooling? Here are some tips to lower your heating costs this winter:

• Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer. For every degree you lower your heat in the 60-degree to 70-degree range, you’ll save up to 5 percent on heating costs.


• Turn the heat down when you go to work and when you go to bed. It won’t take long for the house to heat back up in the morning or when you return from work, and you won’t be paying to heat a house with no one in it. Consider purchasing a thermostat that will do this for you so you don’t have to remember.


• Keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.


• Replace or clean furnace filters once a month. Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase energy use. Now is also the time for a furnace “tune-up.” Keeping your furnace clean, lubricated and properly adjusted will reduce energy use, saving up to 5 percent of heating costs.


• Look and feel around for drafts coming from your doors and windows. You can fill the gaps with caulk or weather stripping that you can purchase for under $10 at Home Depot or Lowes. Locking your windows can help provide a tighter seal.


• Keep furniture and curtains away from vents or radiators. If you have furniture blocking your vents you will drastically cut the efficiency of the heating system. Also make sure your vents and radiators are clean and dust free.


• And lastly, when purchasing new appliances and heating equipment, always choose an energy efficient model!

Well we had a fantastic time at Bark in the Park on Saturday. It started a little drizzly, but ended up being a beautiful day. We gathered for a photo before the walk (that’s me with my eyes closed on the right over there) and then began the Walk for Animals, which was a short walk through Whitaker Woods. The walk seemed a little longer to me, I chose to bring my mom’s chihuahua puppy that had quite the Napoleon complex going on and wouldn’t stop barking unless I carried her! But hey, turns out legs don’t have to be the only thing that gets worked out while walking. After we returned, we enjoyed the morning seeing all the pups and getting some great freebies! As fun as it was, we were all anxiously awaiting the results of our fundraising efforts. It was a very close race, but in the end we won! We raised over $5,000 for Animal Rescue League of NH-North. The fundraising pulled in about $26,000 altogether, so I would say that it was a GREAT success! Can’t wait to do it all again next year, and my guess is there will be a couple of teams chasing our tails for first place!

Emily