Image by Golden Eye via Flickr

Some believe the translation of “Winnipesaukee” to be “Beautiful Water in a High Place;” an apt description, and one that has been in use for more than just a short while. After all, the earliest known community along Lake Winnipesaukee’s shores was the large village of Aquedoctan, established by the Abnaki Tribe along the Weirs channel some 500 years ago, perhaps a great deal earlier. The historical evidence leads to the great mystery surrounding the “Big Lake”—that being how this large lake can maintain its water quality in such a confined watershed. Winnipesaukee is extraordinarily pure for a body of fresh water, in spite of heavy and sustained use. The continuous efforts of the past and current inhabitants to preserve its rare qualities account for this end result.

Winnipesaukee 101: Lakes Region Facts

The basic facts: Winnipesaukee has 183 miles of shoreline and a surface area of nearly 72 square miles, is 21+ miles long and up to 9 ½ miles wide, has a multitude of islands (300 or so, depending on who is doing the counting), and possesses some 600 navigation aids. It was born of the Wisconsin Glacier Period, when glaciers 2 miles thick gouged out fractured and less competent rock, leaving citadels of the more substantial host granite. At their end 13,000 years ago, the glaciers retreated, leaving their mark in the form of moraines, eskers, and kettle depressions, and in effect sculpted all of the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. read more »

Fishing the NH Lakes Region...It really was this big

The fun of fishing seems to transcend all ages as to excitement and thrills, from the great grandparent to the great grandchild. And the lakes and rivers of the Lakes Region of New Hampshire provide endless opportunities and memories for everyone. I have several favorite quotes about fishing. Some even by noted and notable fisher folk.  But my all time one remains, “We are always the same age inside” which I’ve taken from a Gertrude Stein essay and applied to this noble effort.

In another few weeks I’ll put my own dock out. I have a bench at the end of it which provides just the right comfort level for both the eldest and youngest anglers. For me as well, though I do like to go out in pursuit of the small mouth bass and lake trout of Lake Winnipesaukee. For the first timers I suggest a day or half day with one of the professional guides on the big lake, check Lake Winnipesaukee Fishing Guides. They won’t give away all of their secrets, just enough of them to make sure that you’ll enjoy yourself.

The NH Fish and Game Dept. has been busy since early April stocking the smaller lakes, rivers and streams in Carroll and Belknap Counties. My neighbor and his son had a great day at Manning Lake on Sunday. They limited out on fine Brook Trout. And my friend, Captain Joel, of www.nhsaltwaterfishing.com should have his boat out by late May in the Piscataqua River and offering the very best striped bass action anywhere. I’ve been out with him a half dozen times and always had a great time.

Like James Joyce, “I love all things that flow”, I too am enamored by the sight and sound of moving water though I suspect he may have been alluding to things other than rivers. At any rate its fishing season, part of the many whys folks embrace the New Hampshire life style especially here in the Lakes Region. I encourage you to experience and re-experience an activity that will never grow stale, you can always recall a day on the water.

Jim Ferriman
603-267-9866

No time is better than the present for second home buyers

Realtors are certainly becoming popular, at least at gatherings and parties. Not for their entertaining personalities, perhaps, but for what opinion they might venture regarding the direction of the real estate market.

Now, man is a gregarious social creature, not a herd animal mind you, but one who is aware of time and therefore timing. Is this the “bottom”?  I don’t know. I do know that home prices have come down significantly in the past year or so, while financing rates have been more or less firm. While I embrace time, I prefer to exclude timing, championing Newton over Leibniz.

Buyers seeking second homes usually do so for the fundamental desire of establishing a personal alternative to their familiar routine, no matter how interesting and stimulating. Picking the absolute market nadir for a second homebuyer becomes almost antithetical to their true interests. And, the total variables determining a “market bottom” are so numerous and diverse that picking it becomes more a matter of chance than any realized action.

At the same time, sellers have their own time tables and they may be quite different from most buyers. They, if they wish to follow classic market precepts, need to position their property competitively to the general market to attract the buyer. But, waterfront homes in the Lakes Region present unique market conditions; for the buyer pool is large, diverse and can exert unanticipated influence on the actual selling prices on the local market.

My advice, therefore, which I offer to one and all, is that if you see something you like and have the means, don’t hesitate, but make it your own. After all, time as we experience it proceeds in only one direction.

Jim Ferriman            Jferriman@spencerhughes.com (603) 267-9866

Lakes Region Docks MLS# 2778813

As a metaphor it might be a stretch but in actuality this is where the lake experience begins, at the dock. Think of them a transition points, allowing for a natural and gradual introduction from a static familiarity to an ever changing medium.

We, at Spencer Hughes, are much attuned to dock pricing on the Big Lake. Because of state legislation the value of lake side properties are greatly affected by any existing, “grandfathered” dock.

Crib docks, boat houses, breakwaters, permanent docks, floating docks and seasonal docks all have a very strong influence on the appraised and assessed value of waterfront properties. A focal point of waterfront property, this is where we all gravitate eventually, for entertainment, curiosity or simply to maintain contact with the lake.

Waterfront homes with docks in need of attention have, at times, a worth exceeding their appraised value, though a question can arise of at what point do repairs become new construction and perhaps prohibited. Regardless, any repair, alteration, or new construction concerning a dock may require both local and state and permits.

Jim Ferriman
603-267-9866

One of the popular features of the Spencer Hughes website are the live video cam shots of Lake Winnipesaukee. Charitably, the out of state second home owner can stay in touch with the seasonal changes of the lakes region or not so nobly, increase their enjoyment of the warmer climes they have since fled to. Nothing like a live computerized view of Winter Carnival activities on the frozen surfaces of Wolfeboro or Alton Bay while boating in the Caribbean.
At the same time he can switch to live closed circuit videos of his New Hampshire home on his computer or his cell phone.

 A Centralized Control System can activate not only smoke and fire detectors but also monitor water, carbon monoxide, freeze, and intruder sensors. Appliance Control Systems activate interior LED lighting systems and television/radio operation that will give the impression that the home is fully occupied. I know one couple who relied on live video to check on babysitters and later when their children arrived home from school to an empty house. Another couple provided for their elderly parents with a movement monitor worn on the wrist.

The possible configurations are enormous for the homeowner. Always losing your keys, then Biometric Locks may be the solution. Incredibly sensitive Motion Sensors and DVR hidden cameras provide a high level of criminal deterrence. I suppose that the biggest improvement in Home Security is the fact while options have increased prices have declined. Basic and efficient systems are now affordable for even the seasonal cottage owner, and I recommend them.

Jim Ferriman  jferriman@spencerhughes.com  603-267-9866/ 603-52-5385

I admire the results of planning and forethought. And every time I tie up at the Meredith town docks I’m impressed by the effort of the town fathers in creating this quintessential white New England village. Prior to 1830 almost every structure in New England was unpainted. But, at around that period, entrepreneurs began manufacturing paint and distributing it in containers. White paint became the paint of choice because it was easier and cheaper to produce than colored paint. Early promoters shrewdly marketed white as the “tint of wealth” and thereby increased their profit margin. No matter, it lent itself to the classical appearance of an apparent prosperity of villages then as it does now.
The current town fathers of Meredith certainly have taken those lessons to heart. The result is a strikingly beautiful town on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee and one that is becoming a worldwide destination resort. The town offers accommodation and dining choices which are among the finest in New England. And access to the wide world is a Gulfstream V away at the Laconia Municipal Airport. The homes along the shoreline on Meredith Neck are some of the most impressive on the lake with wonderful views down the length of Lake Winnipesaukee. Especially in winter, Meredith evokes a memorable experience for all who can spend some time here. Check out www.meredith.com, you’ll see what I mean.
Jim Ferriman jferriman@spencerhughes.com 603-520-5385

For years I skied the “Champagne Powder” of Steamboat Springs and the advice I gave to talented teenagers was that if they wish to compete on a larger stage they should plan on finishing high school at a ski town in the Northeast part of the country. Why? Edging techniques can’t be taught in 2 feet of powder.

When I myself finally relocated I picked the Lakes Region of New Hampshire partly because of the proximity of Gunstock Ski Resort. Though now I teach by appointment only I did spend a half dozen enjoyable seasons instructing there. For me Gunstock is an instructors dream and the most teachable mountain I have ever experienced.

The secrets of Gunstock lie in the selective nature of the terrain slopes, the low number of mid-week skiers and the uniform consistency of the snow. Once over a period of 4 years a balance impaired skier from Florida, who maintained a second home on the Big Lake, and I worked together in 80 separate lessons that allowed him to become a capable intermediate skier.

The views of Lake Winnipesaukee and its islands from the summit of Gunstock are stunning. This one was taken on at dawn from near the top of the mountain off the intermediate Gunsmoke run. Its no wonder that many of the second homes in the region are principally ski chalets for family and friends. I suggest you check Gunstock.com for this season’s opening date.

Rattlesnake Island

Jim Ferriman Jferriman@spencerhughes.com 603-520-5385

According to a National Association of Realtors (NAR) statistic the combined total of second home sales in 2005 accounted for 4 out of every 10 real estate transactions. The NAR determined that these second home buyers bought 41% of the time for vacation purposes, 31% for use as a family retreat and 28% to diversify their investments.

Now, why would anyone at the end of 2009 care about statistical data from 2005? We can assert that the underlying motivations for the buyers haven’t changed. Mortgage interest rates remain attractive, the stock market is still uncertain, the geo-political scene is roughly the same and congress is no more or less united on any clear objective.

From a realtor’s standpoint home values appeared to have reached a short term peak during the summer of 2006 and since then the difference between the listing and closing price of the average residence has widened, in short the market has shifted to the buyer’s advantage.

The basic axiom of real estate is and has always been that of location. This certainly holds firmly for the second home buyer. The appeal of the area, the activity options available, the quality of life, the distance from the primary residence, the services present and the general interest in the area are key to the second home buyer.

What does the Lakes Region offer in amenities to the second home buyer? The local chamber of commerce of Wolfeboro, Meredith, Gilford, Tuftonboro, Alton and Moultonborough would be happy to recount the outstanding features of the Lake Winnipesaukee area for you and I suggest that you take the time to review all the information available. The key to a happy and successful second home investment is the research effort and continued discussion involving the whole family.

What brought me to the area was water. The Western part of the country is drying up at the same time it is filling up. Water experts have for a number of years warned that the net result for the inevitable water restrictions on land west of the 100th meridian line may well be calamitous for the large population centers. I believe them. And as someone once said, “good waterfront acreage is becoming scarcer and scarcer”.

Well, deer season starts in a week. Most of the Lakes Region fall into the J1 and J2 hunting sections, among the most productive in the state. Time to put away the golf clubs, stow the boat and clean the rifle. Another compelling reason for the New Hampshire second home buyer to consider property in the Lakes Region.

Regards,

Jim Ferriman      Jferriman@spencerhughes.com     603-520-5385

Those of you lucky enough to live along the shores of Lake Wentworth already know that the most notable event in all of the Lakes Region is the Cardboard Classic. The Classic is a duct tape and cardboard boat race, the pinnacle event of Family Day at the New Hampshire Boat Museum. It happens in early August every year.

This year, boat builders at the museum were on hand to assist family and youth teams in the design and construction of these remarkable water crafts. Certificates were given for the most original crafts and the longest floaters. The family event also included toy boat building, a cook out, and the unforgettable War Canoe Water Skier event. The event was a great success.

Check out these Lake Wentworth properties, paddling distance to the Cardboard Classic:
80 Townsend Shore Road, Wolfeboro NH  -  MLS# 2785112
70 Churchill Rd., Wolfeboro NH -  MLS# 2782090
Mark your calendars and start collecting cardboard for next year.

A few more serious Lakes Region boat shows  include:
The 33rd Annual Alton Bay Boat Show
The 36th Annual Lake Winnipesaukee Antique & Classic Boat Show

I think that the summer season has begun. We’ve had some rain its true, as well as some unseasonable cooler weather for the past month, welcome to New England. At one time New Hampshire was thought of as a place to go to escape the heat and humidity of Massachusetts. Now the Lakes Region has become the much desired summer destination for those folks seeking to escape the drought and searing heat of an area from San Diego to Miami. I can certainly understand their very sensible objective. Having lived in west Texas, New Mexico and Colorado where the summer sun seems to trap everything in a deep dust dry as chalk, photographs of New England were overwhelming. Even those enamored by the skyline of a city as seen through the velvety smog of their high-rise condominium windows develop an irresistible urge to venture out to the frontiers in search of what, change. Perhaps in an effort to balance their lives and or sanity.

At any rate the cabins, motels and campgrounds are full. The influx of happy visitors, they’re on vacation, is invigorating to our region. I’ll hazard that one out of every three who stay a week or more will make an inquiry as to the local real estate market during their visit. Now, many of our incomers have visited Washington D.C., New York City, Glacier National Park and even Orlando, Florida but I suspect few ever feel the desire to inquire about real estate there. Why is that? Is the Lakes Region that unique? I would say of course, by all means, the primary goal of this blog is to convey this very singular perception.

I’ve written blogs highlighting the desirability of New Hampshire and the Lakes Region for business incentives, living standards and geographical superiority. But, probably for me the tipper is the sense of unity a family experiences while here. One of our agents, Jeremy Osgood, recently listed a magnificent gated waterfront estate in Moultonborough consisting of 4 permanent residences, 4 seasonal cottages, clay tennis court, gym, studio and 2 boathouses. It is difficult to imagine a family compound in a more graceful setting.

Last week’s analytic report on visits to the Spencer Hughes web site tallied 3,935 from a total of 21 countries. An encouraging figure for a firm whose specialty is the limited area surrounding Lake Winnipesaukee. Our realtors have an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the Lakes Region. If they don’t have a ready answer for your inquiries they know how to research for the solution. Enjoy your visit and we welcome your interest.

www.jferriman@spencerhughes.com             Jim Ferriman 603-520-5385