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     It’s hard to ignore the fact that the real estate market in the Loon area is changing.  What are the indications?  The amount of quality inventory in the Lincoln-Woodstock area is declining as realistically priced properties are selling, and staying on the market for shorter periods of time.  Some properties are starting to sell at or above asking price as it is no longer unusual to receive multiple offers for quality properties.  Land listings which have been on the market for well over a year are starting to sell, as buyers are looking to build their own home once again.  Demand for larger land parcels is also increasing as developers are looking to get back into the market.  Our builder partners are reporting that requests for new construction are starting to filter into their offices at a greater pace than the remodeling requests which they have been living off of the last few years.  First time homeowners are back in the hunt for affordable properties, unfortunately for them often competing with investors who are also back in the market, looking to scoop up more low end and distressed properties with the intent to flip them. Lastly, interest rates are still at all time lows and optimistic thinkers believe that lending requirements which have frankly been overly restrictive, may actually be loosening up.

     What does all this positive, confidence driven activity mean for real estate buyers and sellers currently active in the market?  Inventory will become more scarce, with fewer options for buyers.  Prices will start to climb as demand increases and supply decreases.  And if interest rates remain low and mortgage restrictions loosen up to become more realistic, both of the above factors will be further exacerbated!  That folks, will result in a Seller’s market for the first time in quite a few years.  And here in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, timing could not be better as we enter the peak real estate selling season! 

     Whether you are looking to buy or sell real estate, your best resource is Loon Mountain Real Estate Company, the premier and completely diversified, independent, and uniquely full service Loon Area professional real estate company.  Contact us today to find out how we can help you achieve your real estate dreams!

      The Loon area real estate market has finally started to gain some traction. The fourth quarter of 2012 and the start of the first quarter of 2013 have shown marked increases in property sales here in the Lincoln-Woodstock community, both in the residential and vacation home sectors. Inventory numbers are still strong, but the inventory itself is not necessarily strong as determined by a quality to value ratio. If you have had your property on the market for a while with no substantial activity, maybe the following market reality “points to ponder” may help you to get the offer that you’ve been waiting for:

Is your property priced appropriately to market conditions?

     You’ve chosen a real estate professional you can trust to best market your property, so trust them! They are your best resource to help you understand the realities of the market, and where your property fits in to those realities. A trustworthy broker will give you an honest opinion of value, based on extensive research into the strongest comparable sales within the market area. This value will be based on reality, not emotion or the balance of your mortgage. Remember, emotion and debt obligations can be the greatest obstacles to determining a realistic price for your property. Review your pricing strategy to make sure that your listing price is market driven…period.

Is your property presentable?

     Look at your property through the eyes of a potential buyer.  A vacation home is best presented, and subsequently more sellable, if it is furnished, well-maintained, and in turn-key condition. Most buyers like to think that they can take possession the property the day of the closing and begin enjoying it immediately.  Any personal modifications can be done over time, while the property is being enjoyed.  Sellers may be hesitant to spend money on a property that they are looking to sell, but if that expense becomes an investment which gets the property sold sooner, then it is worth it.  A seller does not want to turn potential buyers away because of cosmetic issues, but this will happen in a buyer’s market, which is what we are dealing with today.  Ultimately, a seller will pay one way or the other…either up front in modifications, or at the negotiating table with a potential buyer.   Also, a seller may need to address the issues before the closing anyway, so having the property presentable will attract more potential buyers initially and is really the best way to market your property. 

Should you offer incentives?

     If your property is priced appropriately, is as presentable as it can be, and is still not garnering serious interest from prospective buyers, then you may need to consider offering incentives.  Buyer incentives could be an offer to pay buyer closing costs; outstanding association assessments or annual dues;  or something specific to the seller that may be of interest to potential buyers.  Broker and agent incentives could be a commision increase; a bonus to a buyer broker; or something specific to the seller that may motivate a broker or agent.  Consult with your real estate agent to see what incentives may work best given your specific property and market.  

     Loon Mountain Real Estate Company is the best positioned and experienced Loon area real estate company to help you to bring your property from a listing to a sale, successfully, as quickly as possible, and at an acceptable price!  The gap between what sellers want for their properties and what buyers are willing to pay is narrowing, which flattens out the supply and demand curve, positively impacting the real estate market.  That being said, it is still imperative to price your property appropriately and present it as positively as possible to maximize its sale potential.  Loon Mountain Real Estate Company is here to serve you!

     Loon Mountain Real Estate Company, Polimeno Realty, and Loon Mountain Recreation Corp. would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  Our gift to you this year has been long overdue in the Lincoln-Woodstock and Loon area…a Loon Area Real Estate Guide! 

     The decision to publish this guide was driven by the endless requests from visitors to the area stopping into real estate offices asking for an area real estate guide, which has not been consistently available.  Although some publishing and newspaper companies have taken a stab at creating such a beast, the results have usually been incomplete and inconsistent.  We will be publishing up to 5000 guides each quarter…winter, spring, summer, and fall…and will be distributing them throughout the Lincoln-Woodstock community.

     What can you expect to find in the Loon Area Real Estate Guide?

     -Over 80 Loon area listings categorized by town (Lincoln or Woodstock); category (condominium, residential, land, multi-family, and commercial), and location designation within each respective community

     -An area map where every resort and significant development in the Lincoln-Woodstock area is identified by location, with a navigational key corresponding to the map and also to the designation included for each listing

    -Real estate buying and selling tips to hopefully assist in simplifying the real estate transaction process

     -A resource guide identifying reputable real estate related partners in fields including property management, appraisals, financing, housekeeping, settlement services, contracting, and others.

     Loon Real Estate Company, Polimeno Realty, and Loon Mountain Recreation Corp. are proud to be able to offer this useful tool to the community and to the area’s visitors.  We would also like to thank the majority of real estate partners in the Loon Valley who have authorized us to include their listings in the guide in order to be able to offer a more diverse and all inclusive list of available properties.  We appreciate the professionalism that most of our peers have exhibited, understanding that inclusion in a publication such as this is a benefit to their sellers, but also to them as real estate professionals…all at no cost to them. 

     We hope you enjoy this winter’s edition of the Loon Area Real Estate Guide, our Christmas present to all of you and to our community.  For the gift that keeps on giving, in celebration of the new year of 2013, we ask you to keep your eyes peeled for the next three seasonal issues to be published later this year. 

     From all of us to all of you…Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

     As New Hampshire hosts its first in the nation Presidential Primary this month, we are all reminded that every four years presidential elections bring with them optimism, regardless of your party affiliation. The real estate market is hoping to ride that wave as it has been a lack of optimism which has shackled the real estate industry in the last few years. There is no doubt that we are starting to see a rise in consumer confidence as unemployment rates are continuing to trend downward; mortgage interest rates are remaining at near record lows; the amount of home sales nationally has increased 11% over the last year; and home prices have declined 4%.  These national trends have positively impacted the Consumer Confidence Index which rose 17% from November to December 2011 with every indication that the trend will continue into 2012.  The time has come for the real estate tide to rise, and with it the rest of the nation’s economy.  If that’s not a reason to be optimistic, I don’t know what is!

Here at Loon Mountain Real Estate Company, we have been impacted directly by this spike in consumer confidence with an increase in the amount of inquiries we’ve been receiving, offers we’ve been writing, and sales we’ve been closing.  Loon Mountain Real Estate Company increased it’s market share in the Lincoln-Woodstock area substantially over the last quarter of 2011 and expects to continue this trend into 2012. With an increased “on-mountain” presence; including newly created Loon TV advertisements running daily; shuttle bus signage; and dining area table tent promotions; Loon Mountain Real Estate Company is sending the message that it is the best located and most experienced real estate company to handle Loon area property. Complementing our “on-mountain” presence is our commitment to advertising and promotion in the Lincoln-Woodstock community. You will find our display ads at the Lincoln Cinema and White Mountain Attractions building, as well as flyer distribution in local restaurants and visitor centers, supported by our large display ads in the Littleton Courier and Valley Fun newspapers. 

Loon Mountain Real Estate Company is investing in optimism as we finally see the signs of a real estate and economic recovery. We hope that you will choose to invest along with us here in the Loon area. Happy New Year…to you and to the real estate market!

As a potential buyer or seller of Loon Area Real Estate, there are a few key reasons why the time has never been better to own a piece of paradise here in the Lincoln-Woodstock New Hampshire area.
1. Cash is King! The days are gone when we all believed that a cash deal was not much different than a financed deal since it was all cash to the seller at closing. In today’s market, a cash buyer has more leverage than ever before! Many sellers are more inclined to negotiate more aggressively when they know that a cash deal is more likely to close sooner and with fewer obstacles than a deal involving financing. For a buyer, given the fluctuations in the financial markets, the time has never been better to consider diversifying your portfolio with real estate investments which could also serve as an investment in quality family getaway time!
2. The Real Estate Value Gap is Narrowing. The gap between the price that a seller wants for his property and the price that a buyer is willing to pay for a property is finally narrowing! The result is that more deals are happening as both sellers and buyers are becoming more realistic in their expectations. This is a normal real estate market adjustment, which we all knew was inevitable, but one which is resulting in more real estate activity here in the Loon area.  To learn more about how to narrow this value gap, tips for buyers and sellers are available from our brokers.
3. Ski Season Is Upon Us. As thousands of skiers and winter outdoor enthusiasts descend upon the Lincoln-Woodstock and Loon Mountain areas, thoughts of owning a piece of this winter wonderland arrive with them. If you’re thinking of selling, winter is a great time to have your property on the market as your potential buyers are here in the area thinking about the same thing you thought about when you purchased your property here at Loon.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us here at Loon Mountain Real Estate Company! You know where to find us!!