Some of you may have read the blog I wrote about a month and a half ago stating that there was statistical proof that the housing market might have bottomed back in March.

Since that blog there has been more and more evidence and positive news relating to housing sales going up, the economy turning and the the stock market trading in a more normal pattern.

As all three of these financial elements gain momentum or in the stock markets case, trade in a reasonable fashion, more buyers will come back into the housing arena. With the levels of buyers we witnessed last fall and winter, basically being non existent, at some point they have to come back. There are just way to many reason that force people to buy and sell homes. Those people have to come back, investors have to come back. Not all investors got burned in the down turn. Did everyone get burned in the stock-market? Of course not! If every stock investor got burned there would be no one left to buy and spurr the 45% rally that we have seen in the last few months. Housing investors have to come back. Second home buyers fall into the investor category to some degree. Second home buyers are very cautious at this point but we are starting to see them come back. They know that the time is right to buy, they just need the confidence to pull the trigger.

If we have no major financial whiplash, terrorist attack or anything that could reverse the course we are on, this fall could be a reasonably good one. A slow but steady up hill climb is what we need. Let’s stay the course!

Time to go show property!!!

There are some great new listings in Eastman. Two of them are land listings.

A residential lot with 2.75 acres, over 200 feet of road frontage and 500′ plus side depth, gently up-sloping for an elevated home site. This home site can get plenty of natural light. Install a winding driveway for privacy, Kearsarge school districts, 15-20 miutes to Hanover, Dartmouth and New London. Plus the Eastman Community!

The next lot is right on the golf course. It over looks the Eastman Golf Links 4th Fairway. There are potential views of Croydon Peak. This lot offers western exposure for glorious sunsets. This is also a double lot for plenty of space. Cross country ski right out your back door. The Grantham/Lebanon school district, easy access to the Eastman main entrance for commuting up or down Interstate 89.

There are several nice waterfront properties available, including private residencies and condos. If you want golf course we have that too. Looking for newer homes or post and beam? We have those styles and many more.

For more information email me, jeff@cbredpath.com

The Eastman Community now has an incredible building that everyone can be proud of. The new South Cove Activity Center has opened and I’ve heard nothing but great reviews! From the updated computer/phone system, WiFi, activity rooms and kitchen. Even the kids game room has kids playing in there. Clean bathrooms and locker rooms, all new exercise equipment in a room at least twice the size of the old fitness room. Flat screen TV’s everywhere.

Walk in and fine the recreation department right there by the front door. Need answers to questions and there is someone at the desk to help you.

The only issue is the pool opening has been delayed but should be ready to go by the end of the month. However with the lake being so warm, I would much rather swim outside. Here are a few photos of this new building.

Did we see a housing market bottom? From the stats I am seeing we just might have seen it.

Our MLS system (Multiple Listing Service) after every month sends us statistics that go back 4 years. By going back that far it takes out the unusual highs and lows that could happen on any given month.

The three most compelling charts are days on market, median sale price and average selling price per square foot.

Let’s start with days on market. The trend line on this chart shows a rather steep incline. In July of 05′ we had an average of 78 days on market. By March of 08′ we averaged 161 days. The next few months the days on market average started to head down only to turn right back up and again hit 161 days on market during the month March of 09′. This number hit right on the 4 year trend line. Since then we have been below the trend line and last month we had an average days on market of 142. The trend line was right at 161 days. Will we see this trend line start to level off?

The next and most important to sellers is the median sale price. This trend line has been declining for over 4 years. We saw a significant drop in the median price in February. We hit a median price of $165,000. This was way below the 4 year trend line which was about $193,500. Since that time the median price has jumped to $200,000. Rising above the trend line for the first time in 8 months.

The last chart I find of major interest is the selling price per square foot. Again February saw the average selling price per square foot drop to the lowest in over 4 years. We bottomed at $115.20 per square foot. Since then prices have rebounded nicely  to $131.05. This is right on the 4 year trend line. Will that line be resistance or will July break through and then use that trend for support?

We will get our July figures in about 3 weeks so it is going to be interesting to see what happens. From what I personally see and from talking to other professionals in the business I think the numbers will all go in the direction we want them to go. This is good news for everyone. Let’s hope the trend is our friend and the housing market continues to improve.

For the actual charts please email me at jeff@cbredpath.com and I will be glad to send you a copy.

Here is a list of ideas that can help with conservations efforts. It really is amazing how we can over look even abuse our natural resources because we take them for granted. If we all do a little the savings will be huge!

• Don’t let the water run while brushing your teeth
• Use a timer while taking a shower
• When waiting for water to heat up, collect the cool water and water your plants or animals
• Use a power strip for appliances and office equipment and turn off while not in use
• Turn lights off when exiting a room, office or conference room
• Air dry clothes
• Run the dishwasher when full
• Set the thermostat as low or high as possible depending on the season
• Clean your furnace filters, it will work easier and be more efficient
• Clean air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators, do not block with furniture or window treatments
• During the winter months let the sun shine in for solar gain
• Close the blinds or drapes at night
• In warmer climates close the drapes or blinds on the south and west facing windows for easier cooling
• Don’t place lamps or TV sets near an air conditioning thermostat
• Use a covered kettle or pot when boiling water, it’s faster and saves energy
• use old office paper for scratch paper
• Turn off computers at the power strip, this will shut down everything
• RECYCLE!!!!!

I covered low and medium cost ideas you can do to a home in previous blogs. Ideas for small life style changes that can make a big difference were also included.

Here are some higher cost ideas for living green that have a longer time horizon to recover costs, but the efficiencies that you gain can really make a big difference.

• Buy ENERGY STAR appliances
• Replace windows with double pane, low-e glass
• Replace rood with reusable/recycled material
• Install photovoltaic panels
• Remodel kitchen or bathroom with sustainable materials and features
• Replace cabinets with sustainably harvested wood and low-VOC finishes
• Install solar hot water heater
• Install a green roof
• Install a wind turbine or wind mill
• Install an on site water reclamation system

Not all of these ideas will work for everyone and I don’t recommend that you go right out and make large purchases but when the time is right, THINK GREEN!

The Eastman New Hampshire Real Estate market for the first half of the year (2009) was an interesting one.

Some days I thought would never end and other days I was so busy I could hardly keep up with all the phone calls, emails and showings.
I have shown a lot of property to a lot of people this year. The bad part is most people are still waiting for the “bottom” or the “perfect” house.

Over all the numbers are down from the previous year but we are seeing some encouraging signs even in the wake of interest rates rising slightly. Better than a half point move on a 30 year fixed rate mortgage might have helped spur some buying? The jump did slow down refinancing according to lenders I have spoken to.

Here are some numbers from Hanover, Eastman and New London based on January 1 through June 30, 2009 compared to 2008.

• Hanover: Homes 21 v. 30   Condos 21 v. 10
• Eastman: Homes 16 v. 28  Condos 2 v 11
• New London: Homes 17 v. 8 Condos 4 v. 9

As you can see home sales are down in Hanover and Eastman but are up significantly in New London. Condo sales more than doubled in Hanover but are way down in Eastman and New London.

What does this tell us? Last year New London home sales had a terrible year, this year’s sales are much better. Last year Hanover condo sales had an average year but this year sales are off the chart in a positive way. Eastman? This is a bad year for both home and condo sales. Only one land sale too. What will happen?

With the amount of activity and what is currently a contingent sale or pending sale I don’t think the numbers will stay this low. Look at how low the sales were in New London in 08′. They bounced back, Eastman will too. If your a buyer, don’t you want to buy now while everyone else sits on the side lines? There are great values out there and next year prices could be moving up. If the activity picks up like it did elsewhere you might find multiple buyers for the same property. When that happens the power to negotiate goes to the seller.

Here is a list of ideas that my cost a little bit more than the tips provided in my previous blog but these ideas can make a big difference to all home owners. Energy savings or healthier living, it all good.

• Conduct an energy audit.
• Tune up the HVAC
• Replace carpets with no-VOC styles
• Replacing wood floors? Try bamboo or cork flooring
• Install a tankless hot water heater
• Insulate attice and other areas
• Use drought resistant or native plants for landscaping
• Install window shading to prevent heat loss or gain
• Buy recycled products if possible

Most of these items are not to just go out and do, but if you are renovating or in need of replacing items in your home or business you don’t have to look hard to find a GREEN solution.

Have you ever complained about a high priced electric bill? What about heating costs? Have you ever used a public water system where they restrict your use? Does anyone in your family have breathing problems? These are just a few issues that can be addressed by going GREEN.

We are not talking major projects in this blog just 16 low cost improvements that you can easily accomplish that will help save our resources.

1. Compact Fluorescent or LED lights
2. Install low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators
3. Start a compost pile
4. Plant trees
5. Insulate hot water heater
6. Weatherstrip and caulk doors and windows
7. Collect rainwater to water plants
8. Paion with low or no-VOC paint
9. Replace filters
10. Install programmable thermostat
11. Plant a rain garden
12. Plant native plants
13. Install motion sensors in offices and other common area’s to turn off lights when not in use.
14. Install water efficient restroom fixtures
15. Take advantage of day-lighting
16. Provide recycle bins

Can you imagine if everyone were take advantage of these ideas how much better off the environment and life will be? The impact would be huge!

For other great ideas that can help sustainable life email me at jeff@cbredpath.com

Does anyone believe that Real Estate is a good investment because prices have come down so much in recent years? Do you think that Real Estate will be worth more in ten to fifteen years from now? Do you wish you had the money to buy now but just don’t have a down payment? Well maybe you do.

Have you ever heard of a Self Directed Retirement Account? Do you know you can buy Real Estate with funds from you self directed account and any gains are tax deferred just like any other gains you may have. All real property is eligible. There are some rules to follow with buying Real Estate, as there are with all IRA’s but some good tax advise from your accountant will help clear the way. Here are a few

• The transaction may be leveraged using the property as collateral for the loan. The loan must be non-recourse, meaning that the loan is secured by a pledge of collateral, typically real property.
• The entire transaction must flow through the IRA
• Fractional interests are allowed, usually as tenants in common.
• You may not buy or sell a property you already own to or from your IRA. Your IRA cannot deal with “disqualified people”. Disqualified people include lineal realatives.
• You may not live in a property owned by your IRA.
• Your business may not lease or be located in a property owned by your IRA.

The tax savings can be significant and rolling your money into a self directed IRA is fairly easy to do. Try googling “Self Directed IRA” or “Self Directed Retirement Account”. You will be surprised at what you will find. I would not ask your retirement account holder as they most likely do not offer that type of account. They may even tell you it can’t be done, but it can.

Look into it, you have nothing to loose and the opportunity to buy Real Estate hasen’t been this good in a very long time.

For more information you can contact me at jeff@cbredpath.com