steve's White Mountain Blog

When nothing but the very best will do, We have the site for you. North facing mountain views, and one of Loon's South Mountain trails as your Southern Property Boarder...spells a location second to none.

 South Peak Home site #37 listed for sale at $499,900 -Town water & Sewer, underground utilities and a ski trail in your very own back yard...closest site to the Pemigewasset Base camp and Kanc Quad Chair lift.

Home site #36 ...one of the two dozen homes already completed and the closest neighbor to this new listing.

 Big mountain skiing...two hours from Boston in the Heart of the White mountain National Forest (in fact the ski trails are on leased Federal Forest land - so no development above this site will be allowed), and Direct access from this site to the base Lodge on the South Peak side of Loon mountain.

Not only do you have access to corduroy groomed snow on the Public trails, but the owners association grooms the private ski back trails and has their own lift on the South Peak resort site.

The Western view of Mount Moosilauke is outstanding, the Paved Roads, and underground utilities will keep these views intact from this beautiful home site. Building Covenant ensure all future homes to be of the highest quality...We have design plans for this site -featuring a ski bridge from the trail to your ski /mudroom.

Other Home sites, Homes and Condominiums for sale at the South Peak Resort on Loon...check out our web site for more details "SLOPE SIDE AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN . COM"  

The Current Owners had our in-house drafting and design firm create several scenarios for a home design and the accompanying site layout. All of the plans included a second floor bridge access to the homeowners ski path. Which will allow the family to ski out directly to the lift and at the end of their ski day ski right back to the comfort of their mountain side retreat.

Plans require a minimum of 2,500 Square feet in the South Peak Resort on Loon, and this site has had several re-draws with revisions close to 5,000 square feet and up to 6 bedrooms. There is room here to build a modest home or anything short of the 6,000 square foot cut off point...allowed in this slope side resort. Have everything that you can dream of in your slope side home at Loon Mountain, in Lincoln New Hampshire. Two hours from Boston and miles away from the ordinary ski resort locations, people are use to settling for.

Alpine Lakes Real Estate...your One-Stop Real Estate Shop in the White mountains of New Hampshire. Offering General Realtor's services as well as design build and custom home general contracting services in-house.

*Use the MLS Icon on the bottom of this post to search for all area properties regardless of who has it listed. Search throughout the 44 towns of Grafton County.

The six degrees of separation happens with greater frequency as I expand my social networks, and begin my 27th year as a Realtor.

First off Congratulations to the Riley Family, we completed a sale on their Deer Park condo Yesterday. What a wonderful family and a great place to re-connect with their kids after a long week at work and school. Now is the time to enjoy the kids while they are young. The view is across the frozen lake in the center of the resort, and you can just catch a glimpse of some of the Ski Trails at Loon Mt in the back ground. This will be a blast for the Riley's and their three children...memories are fondest when recreation is part of the plan.

Here is the, everyone that you meet knows somebody that you know - in this case someone I'm related to. When I first met the Mr. Riley, we talked about his job as a state police officer. I mentioned my Uncle was a higher up in the Ranks back in the Late 50's until the early 70's. I really didn't think much of the conversation until I got an email with a note saying: "I thought you would enjoy some Photos I found in a Massachusetts State Police book that is in the library at my station".

The photos were of my Uncle Escorting President Kennedy to the Cape Cod Family Compound...a couple of months before his election to office. The bi-line also indicated Commandant Loynd had risen to the highest post in the state police ranks after starting out as a night patrolmen. It is really cool to have a client dig up some family history like that. I'm glad the photos were not of a known felon of the same last name.

      #2)  Cool Closing, One of my past clients called a couple of weeks ago, and asked about the vacant lot next to him...one thing lead to another and that home site closed yesterday too. There are a lot of properties with great mountain views, but Mr & Mrs Rice got one of the best spots I've ever seen.

Congratulations Bill & Jennifer, when you are ready to build a new home give me a call and we'll set you right up.

Two Closed sales and photos of my Uncle shaking hands with President Kennedy...It was a pretty cool day.

                      Cargill Construction of New Hampshire

The second floor of the Campton New Hampshire Construction office has been transformed in to a custom choice center. A sample of products has been assembled to help you move your recreational home project along. Most of the clients are from out of state and wanted one stop shopping, and wanted to touch and feel what was being quoted in their building package...the solution was simple - take the entire second floor of the construction office and transform it in to a show room and add a 50 inch flat screen computer to review plans and photos of current projects.

From the custom built (maple & Wrought Iron) stairway to the showroom...Cabinets, counter tops, Flooring , knobs, doors,,,and even the use of stick banding along the vaulted ceilings. Lakes and Mountains Adirondack style homes designed and built in-house, throughout New Hampshire. It is far easier to make all your choices in one place....while finalizing your blue prints, take a look at finishing options.

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                                Flooring choices - Carpet, tile, wood and stone.

One of the Completed Adirondack style Ski Homes at Loon Mountain's South Peak slope side location.

                                    Slope side at South Mountain . Com

 Classic post and beam style with that rustic mountain feel. This one was done completely using a post and beam design and method of construction. Yellow Birch Circle on the South mountain side of Loon ski area.

A very popular way to have everything you want in your mountain side home, is to mix post and beam construction and stick built framing. The interior public spaces (living, dinning & Kitchen) are all exposed and  structural beams...at the same time the lower level walk out and bedrooms are traditional 2 x 6 framing. It makes it easier to plumb, wire and install HVAC while maintaining the beauty of Adirondack -post and beam construction. This method is an affordable solution as well, when Post and beam is a beautiful option it can add 30% to your over all construction cost. Employing Beams for use in the main living areas, and stick build everywhere else saved this owner nearly "6 figures" on this project alone. We are Happy to go all traditional Post and Beam...but that is up to  the client. A basic Frame to Weather tight exterior, from the photo above to the smaller insert were taken a week apart.

         One of the Homes on Hemlock Drive...With a Loon Mountain ski trail right behind this spot.

  Crooked Mountain road, in the South Peak Resort on Loon Mountain Lincoln NH one of Cargill Construction's dozen homes built in this project alone. With more planned here, Lake Winnipesaukee, Waterville Valley ski resort and further North toward Bretton Woods ski resort. New Hampshire's Mountain side and lake front Adirondack homes style (Green certified) builder.

Award winning designs, and a 35 year reputation for quality construction and superior results. With offices on the way to Loon & Waterville resorts.

          New Hampshire Green Certified - Award winning home in the lakes region of New Hampshire.

The Inside has to be every bit as nice as the exterior, this home was designed with a Geo-Thermo heat pump and was supper insulated to make it ultra energy efficient to heat and cool. A vacation home with a small carbon foot print is possible with the right design and general contracting service that pays attention to the smallest details.

Cargill Construction / Green Builder in New Hampshire.

   Design Build services…with an Adirondack style flair.

  Another Lake Winnipesaukee home...this one used pealed log for Structural posts.

White Mountains - Woodstock NH, Cross Country Ski on the old Rail Road Tracks Wednesday.

A mile out along the groomed snowmobile trails...I only had to step off for one snow machine once in two hours.

The Boston and Maine Railroad tracks follow the Pemigewasset River, it's visible most of this 6 mile trip.

 Murky in the Mountains today...we are expecting a little more snow and that should dress up the trails nicely.

There is evidence of farms ,fields and former livestock along the tracks it's a couple of miles from my house till the next home when riding the B&M on cross country skis.

Nothing but the sound of the river and my skis, approaching home. I had to pack my own trail on the paths and fields behind the house 90% of the trip was on the tracks but the last little bit was more of a bush whacking trip.

The Village of Woodstock is 6 miles north and the tracks take you to the center of Town...and the Woodstock Brew Pub, say if you wanted a beer before skiing home?  My office is another mile up the tracks but I didn't visit today, it was a an outdoor day and it needed to stay that way. Back to work Tomorrow refreshed and in the right frame of mind...Looking for a property near Loon Mountain ski area, I know all the back roads, train tracks and paths along the rivers.

Use the MLS Icon on the bottom of this post ,search area properties throughout Grafton County New Hampshire

 Here is a shot of Boom Run on Loon Mountain, I managed to get in 4 runs in 40 minutes yesterday it was 8 below but blue sky's today 25 degrees and cross country was just perfect. I'll be in the office tomorrow.

Only the hearty go out when it's 20 below, and the fool hearty do it for recreation.

Mother nature operates on her own clock, and the rest of us be dammed, we take the cold as a challenge...hell above zero is tee shirt weather.

  The Northern range and condos at clearbrook village condos Lincoln NH. Mount Washington NH.  No lift lines on the Hill today, would you ski at -20?

Sunset over the Loon Mountain Bridge Pemigewasset river. The river below  will be roaring in the spring...I really like every season in the White Mountain National Forest in  NH.

Search all area listings by price, town or type of property  with the MLS icon on the bottom of this post.

As another weekend unfolds the White Mountains of New Hampshire, have experienced record snow fall and the record number of skiers have toppled the old ticket sales numbers. Over the Martin Luther King Jr. three day weekend Loon mountain had a Saturday sell out with ticket sales exceeding 8,200 (at $70/ticket that was very good day). What does this mean for the region and the future? Additional Terrain, trails and lifts are scheduled for the South mountain side of Loon in the coming year (designs for a new learning center were recently unveiled as well). While showing homes at South Peak resort, I noticed many skiers still haven't discovered the new peak on the south side (in it's 3rd season of operation). The Lift lines on South Peak remained minimal during this sell out period. The owners of these fine Adirondack style homes, have miles of their own private trail system and an owners lift to take families directly to one of Loon's high speed quad lifts and up on to the rest of the public slopes.

One of the homes listed for sale on South mountain...that you can ski home too, when you're ready to call it a day. #1 South Mountain Road, Lincoln New Hampshire.

I understand not every one can afford to buy a slope-side home, building site or condominium. Here is my Commute from 6 miles south of the resort...I get on Interstate 93 at exit 30 and off at exit 32 (the Loon exit).

     Exit 30

I followed this Snowmobile trailer up the highway...having received 36 inches of snow in the last ten days means some great sledding. Note New Hampshire highway crew has it down to bare pavement even after getting 6 new inches less than a day ago. Bravo...to the NH highway Department (tourism is a big industry).

  Exit 31

The Franconia Notch State park looms up ahead, the State owned ski area Cannon Mountain where our own Gold Medalist Bode Miller trained as a child is on the other side of the White mountain range. Cannon is a super place to ski, but as a state park there isn't any town, or accommodations...except at the Loon mt exit in Lincoln less than ten minutes drive from Cannon and Franconia Notch.

  Exit 32

Here is my stop, off at the Lincoln NH...and the Kancamagus scenic highway exit. I make my home on the Pemigewasset river a stones throw from the Jack O'Lantern Golf Course (3 bd condos there from 170K). It's a nice commute to work everyday, I pass happy folks on their way to recreational destinations in the Great White Mountain National forest (800,000 acres of wilderness - 2 hours from Boston).

The Pemi river

If you don't ski or Snowmobile...try a snow shoe out in to the woods, the State and Federal Forest lands offer a ton of places to get off the pavement and listen to the sounds of winter.

Loon Mountain Event: CASA / Court appointed special advocates

When:  Friday, February 4, 2011

Details:                                            

CASA Returns to Loons for its 11th Anniversary and returns to golfing on snow.  Teams will compete just like a regular shotgun golf tournament, and while on skis, a snowboard or snowshoes.  All money raised goes directly to CASA of NH.  CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) helps abused and neglected children navigate their way the court system.  Any participants will receive a special room rate at the Comfort Inn on Friday night February 4th by showing the CASA credentials.  Visit www.casanh.org for more info.

Participants will buy a $95 ticket…which will include them in all the events and provide their lift ticket for the day as well: Ski & Riding, Breakfast, Lunch provided by the Common Man, Après Ski party, goody bag…and nine holes of golf on snow. The Blue Ox trail will be transformed into a 9 hole course, where teams can show off their snow golf talents. Samuel Adams brewery will be on hand, Air Trans will be giving away 2 round trip tickets to a special destination, and Rossignol will provide raffle items including Boots, bags and skis for the lucky ticket holders.

  Come for a day of skiing and riding...and if you don't golf...watch the fools try their hand , and enjoy the views.

I can't get over these views.

                                        National Forest Views...not a structure as far as the eye can see.

We have had over 30 inches of snow in the past 8 days in the White mountains of New Hampshire. I caught a brief break between Real Estate and plowing to take this shot of the Northern Range from the Top of Loon Mountain ski area.

And then it started snowing again...more expected Friday then the temps are going to drop. If you are coming north to ski or snowmobile we got snow, but bring an extra face mask exposed ski is going to take a beating.

 Also Keep your pets inside, not only is it going to be very cold...but hungry wild creatures have been spotted close to home. These prints are most likely Coyote and the photo was taken 200 feet from my house.

  So get out and enjoy the Mountain scenes, there is tons of the white stuff for your snow sports activity, but cover exposed skin and keep the pets indoors...your face and your fury friends will thank you later.

I have always thought you could massage the numbers to make them support your position. Looking for comps to get your home appraised is a real art. Most appraisers will not accept your “leg work” for determining values. I was recently trying to find where I should target my marketing budget for second home sales in the North-East. Basically where will my buyers come from given a 2+ hour drive and the areas that support the income to buy from with-in that distance (New England states being the target market).

The Raw income numbers New England Vs. the rest of the country

  Top 100 Counties for Per Capita Income in the United States (New England only).

   #6 in the U.S. Fairfield County Connecticut.

   #18 in the U.S. Nantucket County, Massachusetts

   #22 in the U.S. Norfolk County, Massachusetts

   #29 in the U.S. Middlesex County, Massachusetts

   #94 in the U.S. Newport County, Rhode Island

   #97 in the U.S. Rockingham County, New Hampshire

Note the highest by county income in Maine ranked #192 & Vermont #212

  *The raw numbers don’t tell the whole story…common sense still has its say

Here is where the numbers can play tricks on you: #6 Fairfield County, are folks that often commute to New York and – the New Yorkers go to the resorts in Vermont as it is easier to travel north directly to our Western neighbor. #18 Nantucket (and the Islands) also have a difficult commute and a small population to make good bang for your marketing buck.

Boiling it down to my best chances to sell properties to out of state buyers

From #22 to #97 is my target…big populations, easy access via the highway system and historically more inclined to head due north to New Hampshire, rather than Maine or Vermont. People go where they are comfortable going.

More research tells me even more than what is apparent on the surface.

Interesting note: While Middlesex County ranks #29 in Per Capita income in the U.S. It consists of over 40 towns…20 of which rank in the top 30 for highest income per tax return in the state of Massachusetts, and Middlesex county ranks 10^th in the United Stated as having the highest concentration of Millionaires by county in the nation. Conclusion: Eastern Mass , the City of Boston, Southern NH and the sea coast of Rhode Island…are in my sights. Wealth by zip code reveals 40 towns from the north shore to Cape cod...where individual salaries "average" over $100,000 per year in Massachusetts.

 I heard a marketing “Guru” joke once “shoot first and identify whatever you hit as your target”. I have learned ammunition can be very expensive…the Minutemen of the Massachusetts colonies said “don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes”.  I want to know what I’m firing at is what I’m trying to hit.

          Deer Park – Ridge Townhouse for sale.

One of the areas most sought out locations new condo listing.

This 1,600 square foot two bedroom three bath floor plan, offers vaulted ceilings with sky lights, beautiful wood burning fireplace in the generous sized living room, and comfortable dinning for eight. The condo features two master suites with a private full bath in each and a fully applianced kitchen. Also a main floor laundry room and air-lock mudroom entry.

 The center piece of the community is focused on a five acre lake with a sandy beach and the largest recreation club featuring racket ball courts an indoor pool, hot tub, game room, function hall, cardio and weight rooms.

Additional attractions the home owners enjoy at Deer Park are the skating area, 5 tennis courts and common picnic areas long the Pemigewasset river. When ski season arrives the association offers shuttle service to the Loon Mountain ski resort just a few miles away...Asking Price $185,000 Furnished

More information & photos of property open Deer Park Link.

To view all area listings click on the MLS button on the bottom of this post or open Alpine Lakes Real Estate co inc. icon.

Mount Moosilauke West of Deer Park Resort...a tough hike in the winter and much nicer in the summer and early fall. Deer Park, is only a couple of miles from The Whales tale Water Park, Clark's trained bears, and the Lost River caves...and of course Loon ,Waterville & Cannon ski areas are only a few minutes away.