Not long ago some friends asked me whether owning my lakefront home was worth the extra cost given the amount of time spent vacationing at the property.  My response was yes, because it costs a lot less than you might think.  As my friend pointed out it is precisely the fact that we are not always there that makes the difference.

You see, lakefront property or ski homes can have a higher initial price tag, costing up to double or more than a principal residence but you may reside there for only a few weeks per year.  The trick is to look at the property as an investment property and rent.  Of course this scares some people, who have no desire to be landlords.  Often, however, that doesn’t need to happen.  Many vacation home properties have onsite rental programs, for example properties associated with Attitash Mountain Village can be included in the rental program there.  If your vacation property isn’t part of an association with a rental program prime vacation regions like the Mount Washington Valley have plenty of property management companies that can take care of business for you.  Of course we would be more than happy to help you put together a plan that will change the bottom line and bring that vacation home well into your budget.

JtRealty specializes in vacation properties at Attitash Mountain, Mount Cranmore, Conway Lake and Hale’s Location Country Club.  Let us know if we can help you.

-Rick

Quiet anonymity is a life path some choose and fully embrace. I suppose that suit has never fit me just right and is perhaps why real estate and teaching have been my first career instincts. You know, for brief moments in my work I have a captive audience. And it’s not feeding the ego but rather the interaction that is rewarding. Figuring out what motivates a student, a buyer, a seller is all very fascinating in a world of social animals and a  smile at the end of a day keeps me on the return when this market is full of lumps, bruises, and near misses.

Do I dare say this is my art? Do I dare suggest business can be something more than the passing of paper and documents? Ryan me dear fellow I think you’ve got something here!

Because this business is gently informing a Manahatten client we lost the purchase to someone with more cash — his retirment home would have to wait.  Or sharing deep emapthy with a client who lost his wife to cancer and never sat at the table when we closed. Or connecting a client with dependable contractors after a purchase meant necessary home improvements. This is all a part of what I do and service Ryan Mahan provides. I provide service; please do not confuse what I do with sales.

A house is a house is a house but the real match making is fitting personalities with a house. A house has no spirit without people, laughter, or the natural song and pace of a human day. Being able to see a family or a couple mesh with a house is important — no worries, I don’t practice tarot cards. I recently visited this house for a client (not my listing) and felt a cabin-like quality with the full space and comfort a modern house provides, a unique combination. The home is located between Attitash and Cranmore skiing. Email Ryan@JtRealty.com with any questions and remember, we are more than the motions we go through.

Cheers

Why NH Waterfront Property?

Ryan the Realtor readily admits I could not adapt myself to city life: the incessant motion, the artificial lights and sounds, yet mostly the lack of  space and true quiet would turn me tighter than your industrial screw soon to explode and sprint madly through the streets pulling my hair and screaming savagely. Perhaps this a touch of dramatic but mostly true. I consider myself closer to the cave than my other primate cousins.

Did you float down a mild-winter-river this December? Did you step into your wooded lawn, lay down and peer at familiar constellations and still wonder like a curious kid? Did you start a cooking fire from last year’s brush and prepare a meal in tin-foil because you didn’t feel like going indoors for supper and no one on the bloody planet could stop you? I did.

Moments like these are simply soul maintenance — a moment when a man (or woman) can relax and breathe without considering the day’s tedious responsibilities or tomorrow’s tasks growing like a dessert storm.

Purchasing a second home is not a necessity, but finding internal peace and external solitude is. We can tend to our lives and become better people as a result. 49 Little Shore Drive on the shores of Pea Porridge Pond may just be the space for you.

Call Ryan the Realtor to schedule a visit today — (207) 462-3874.

View more waterfront property here.

Conway Lake Foliage

Jaxson’s first day of preschool

The mornings are getting a little crisper up here in the mountains, and my husband took the air conditioners out of the windows this weekend. Traffic is getting easier to tolerate, advertisements for county fairs are flooding the radio, and I think I caught a little bit of red and orange peeking out of some green leaves looking out over the vista yesterday afternoon. Fall is upon us, and it isn’t looking like it is going to be a slow transition between seasons.

While the fall is arguably the most beautiful season, and certainly a personal favorite of mine, rather than sit back and enjoy the apple cider I always find myself getting excited for the holidays. My son, Jaxson, started preschool this week, and will be enjoying his first winter break come December. It is so great to live in this area, where no driving is necessary to enjoy the winter favorites that tourists come from miles to take advantage of. And it is especially nice not to have to pay for a vacation rental! I have met several tourists over the years, and am always amazed at the people that continue to visit the valley year after year. I can’t even tell you how many people I have heard say “I’ve been coming here in the winter since I was a kid!” And yet these people continue to stay in hotels, or other rentals in the area, at inflated “in season” costs. When you are referring to a place with 4 equally fun and beautiful seasons, it isn’t often you will run into “off season” prices. The solution? A vacation home! I know what you are thinking, that you can’t afford a second mortgage, but you would be surprised at some of the options that are available to you. It isn’t every day that you can go on vacation, especially if you have children and a full time job. Don’t waste time and energy worrying about the quality of your rental, check in, check out, and crossing your fingers that the pictures you saw online weren’t taken five years and thirty keg parties ago.

Let us help to take the stress out of your vacation, and find you your home away from home, no matter what your price range is.

Emily

A Change of Season in Mount Washington Valley

The coming of fall in the Mt. Washington Valley marks a time of change.  I’ve located my winter slippers, most of my firewood is split and stacked, and slipping towards October has allowed me to reflect upon the oncoming winter. Of course there will be additional chores such as turning over the vegetable garden, putting plastic on the north facing windows, and cleaning out the flu of the wood stove.
However, I also reflect upon our upcoming family traditions with Nicole and my children: the early morning walk on the first snow of the year, playfully tagging the Evergreen trees that dumps the white stuff behind our collars, the first lopsided snow man, the tracks of various sledding courses that wind between Oak and Beech trees, and hot chocolate next to the whispering wood stove. These are the stories we collect. This is living in Mt. Washington Valley. This is what makes me rich.

Seeking Mountain Views and Home in North Conway

I recently spent a Sunday with clients who were chasing similar dreams: a cabin with a view facing the mountains, a place to stash skis and boots forever, and a place to build memories with their two children. And just maybe on cold, rainy days in November this cabin becomes a place to nap, read, and play board games. A place to step away from the work-a-day lives we all maintain.
Well, this is very possible in Mt. Washington Valley. Private mountain views do exist and there are enough choices to make the numbers work and carefully select a restful location so you can begin building your own stories with your friends and children. East of the Mississippi, where are you going to find mountain views as spectacular as Mount Chocorua,  Cathedral Ledge or the Moat Mountain Range? Right here in the valley.  If you want to see the best mountain views the valley has to offer please contact me today.

Yours,

Ryan

Always wanted to invest in real estate, but don’t know where to begin? This is the perfect property to start with…

Your tenants will love living on the water, skating on the pond in the winter, sitting on their private deck enjoying the views while BBQing, and being able to walk to Conway Village and its restaurants, the library, Conway Elementary and Kennett Middle school. You will love earning passive income by renting out both of the units and gaining equity in the property as the market stabilizes and prices begin to rise in a few years.

I took my kayak over there yesterday to take some photos of the house from the pond and the reflection of the clouds in the water was so stunning I couldn’t resist taking a few pictures. It is hard to imagine that you can find such peace, tranquility and beauty right in the heart Conway Village!

We would be more than happy to provide you with a broker’s projection sheet, and if you are a first-time landlord we can give you lots of great advice on tenant applications, qualifications, and leases. Send Joy an email with any questions you have about this listing or how to get started investing in real estate. Joy invests in local real estate herself and is always eager to help people do the same. To see all of the other multi-family properties on the market in the Mount Washington Valley click here.

Just reduced to $199,900 this is a fantastic investment opportunity for you

Join the Team Tarbell Terriers and Donate to the Conway Area Humane Society

For the past 12 years Joy Tarbell Realty has been participating in “Bark in the Park” the Conway Area Humane Society’s annual fundraiser. The Team Tarbell Terriers have been the top fundraisers for the past 6 years, and we hope to keep that tradition alive. To visit our donation site click here.

Those of you who have visited our office at the Scenic Vista in North Conway NH know that we are a very pet friendly office. Currently we have 3 resident cats (Hobbes, Polly, and Ginger) and a dog (Skye). Polly, Ginger and Skye are all former residents of the Conway Area Humane Society!

If you hadn’t guessed already, it helps to be an animal lover to work in our office. Aside from our adopted office pets (well they are actually Joy’s) several of the agents in our office have also adopted their pets from the Conway Area Humane Society. Suzie Laskin is a member of the Board of Directors for the Conway Area Humane Society, and her “Ella” is CAHS alumna as well.

Ginger is the feisty little 6 lb sweetie that we adopted on New Year’s Eve 2008, after being in a cage at the shelter for 7 months. She didn’t get along with the other cats so couldn’t be allowed in the cat social room. She’s doing fine with our cats now, though they all have their own “territories”.

Polly is our Gemini Twin from the constellation “Pollux”, though her brother “Castor” died of a tumor awhile ago. She’s the kisser and loves to be held close to your face.

Skye was the first dog adopted from the dog house, 2 weeks before the dog shelter opened. She was left there at 8 weeks old and Joy came down and took her home that night. That was 5 years ago! Graduated at the head of her class in Obedience School.

Here’s Ella after her graduation from Obedience Training taught by Brian Ahearn of Four Your Paws Only. Ella was adopted from CAHS after she was transported here from a shelter in Kentucky where she would have been euthanized. Ella went to her forever home with Suzie Laskin where she’s been happily living with sister, Abby, a big black shaggy dog.

Adorable Bucky adopted by Rona Ahearn from the Conway Area Humane Society

Cute little Abbycat is the newest addition to Bob and Rona’s family. She’s another CAHS alum, 8 months old. She loves Bucky and everything that sits on a countertop!

All of these animals, and countless others, are living proof of what an amazing job the Conway Area Humane Society does to rescue pets and find them new loving homes and owners.

We really hope that you can help us raise money and awareness for the animals by donating to the Conway Area Humane Society. It is really easy to do, and will only take you about 1 minute! Click on this link to get started: www.FirstGiving.com/TeamTarbellTerriers

And of course, you are always welcome to join us at the Bark in the Park “Walk for the Animals” at Schouler Park in the Village of North Conway on Saturday, September 26^th! For more information visit the CAHS website: www.ConwayShelter.org

Hi All,

Harrison called late yesterday; bad news, S. Cove nest was apparently attacked by something, egg is broken and no loons sitting!

Maybe next year,

Dick

How quickly time flies! You hear it all the time, but let’s look at the changes.

Jay Leno has spent 17 years at the Tonight Show, now changing to an earlier time.

After a drought in world series for 86 years, our Boston Red Sox have now won 2!

The shopping district in North Conway now has a Home Depot, Lowes and Starbucks on the main strip.

And, my cat, Rosita, turned 18 and passed away.

Where did the time go?

The good thing about a pet living a long life is that they have the best home available to them,  and good genes! Now, it’s time for us to get another cat.

We have a wonderful shelter in the area. The Conway Animal Humane Society is a no kill pet shelter, and I’m planning on getting another cat to keep us company. Bob and I really appreciate the love and attention you get from a pet, and let’s face it, pets need good homes.

We have numerous fund raisers for the CAHS throughout the year, one that I always participate in is the Bark in the Park fundraiser.

People and their dogs get together the 2^nd Saturday of every September for a great day of fun with your pets! We do a short loop at Whitaker Woods in North Conway and back to Schuler Park for treats, games, and food for you and your dog.

JtRealty Lakefront to Mountainside “Power Paws” team is always among the top leaders in fundraising for this event, and I’m happy to be a part of it. If you would like to participate this year, or make a donation to help the Conway Area Humane Society just send me an email.

Tune in next time for cute pics and commentary on my new cat. We haven’t found her yet, but I can’t wait to go the CAHS and find her!

Rona Ahearn

by Suzie Laskin

One of the things I love about working at Joy Tarbell Realty is that we’re a “pet-friendly” office. We have three cats (Polly, Hobbes and Ginger) and a dog (Skye) who live here, all of whom are alumni of the Conway Area Humane Society. Anyone visiting our office is given a warm, friendly welcome by at least one of them. Over the years, many of the employees have brought their pets to work, and our customers really seem to appreciate the pet-friendly atmosphere here in the office.

As a Board member of the Conway Area Humane Society, I’d like to take this opportunity to talk about some of the wonderful work that CAHS does for our community.  The organization has many dedicated staff and volunteers who work tirelessly. The mission of the Humane Society is a “commitment to the human/animal bond, encouraging it through education and animal adoption, protecting it when threatened by violence, disaster, or medical emergency, and respecting it when broken by death.”

The Shelter has some wonderful programs, such as the Lifelong Friends program that matches senior citizens with older, adoptable animals. This popular program addresses many of the concerns expressed by seniors who desire a companion animal.

CAHS has an Emergency Medical Care Program, which is appropriate when an individual is unable to afford pet care while receiving medical or emergency care as a result of illness or an accident, or when a hospitalization or nursing home stay is required, but there are no family or friends available to help care for a pet.

The Maurice and Paula Lovejoy Learning Center provides a space for learning and training programs. Learning is the key to understanding, and understanding will help to break the cycles of abuse, violence and neglect.  

These are but a few of the many programs that the Conway Area Humane Society offers to our community.

Of course, all these programs require funding, and the Shelter depends upon support from the community. Recently, we held our most successful “Paddy O’Paws Brunch/Auction” ever, raising nearly $45,000!  One of the fabulous items that was auctioned was an African Safari Trip.  Stay tuned for more upcoming exciting events next fall:  Bark in the Park and the Fur Ball.

We now have two resale shops – the Harrison House in Conway, next door to the Shelter on route 113/302 and a brand new shop in Norcross Place in North Conway called Re-Tails that sells mens’ and womens’ clothing and accessories.

Right now, we are raffling off a brand new Subaru, donated by Profile Motors of Conway. If you would like to purchase a $50 raffle ticket, or make a donation of any kind, contact me or the Conway Area Humane Society.