This morning started at 5 below zero...with beautiful pink sky's

At 6:30 the mountains and sky's were looking very pink. First cup of coffee this morning -enjoying the view.

at 7:30 with the sun fully up and temps have risen to an even "ZERO" yeah it is going to be in the positive numbers today. A small victory to look forward too.

I'm not crazy - I didn't have to go outside for these shots, this is my kitchen window. Second cup of coffee.

The Top 10 Real Estate Agents in New Hampshire

  I found this article as a link on Facebook...I was not contacted about my services or asked for any feed back, but the public has spoken and I like what they had to say.

When you want to know which real estate agents in New Hampshire are in the top ten, you have to understand that they are scored according to many criteria. These criteria include everything from performance and service, to reputation and customer satisfaction.

The top ten New Hampshire real estate agents include both independent and agency agents:
Buyer’s Option Realty in Nashua specializes in the southern portion of the state. Its top agent, Joan Whitebook, has achieved the highest score with 154,681. Independent agent, Joan Mirantz, operates out of Concord and actively assists buyers and sellers in the immediate area. Her reputation and success has given her the second place score of 120,048. Independent agent, Jay McGillicuddy, covers a broad range of areas, working out of Hampstead. He has achieved a high score of 119,856. Offering out of Dover, Bill Somerset, covers properties in Rochester, Somersworth, Rollinsford and Dover. He has an easily accessible website and has achieved a high score of 58,654. Jay and Monika McGillicuddy are a combination team with a score of 57,162, and are renowned for their superior service, experience, skills and knowledge of the Hampstead area. For properties in the north and lakes region, especially Lake Winnipesaukee, Kim Carpenter has gained independent success with a score of 44,712. She has proven herself as a powerful specialist in marketing and offers free consultations in Alton. Fred Light of Nashua combines his real estate score of 43,583 with services for other offices and real estate agents through his comprehensive web site. Alpine Lakes Real Estate in Woodstock offers twenty-five years of experience in a generally ski resort area, specializing in custom built homes. There score is 41,437. Judy Tuscano of Brentwood also has a long track record of experience covering local areas and parts of Maine. Her team provides twenty-five years experience with buyers and sellers, gaining a score of 38,218. Tim and Pam Ross-Wade work out of Wolfeboro, but serve the entirety of New Hampshire for both sellers and buyers. Their score of 37,733 has been earned through a reputation of professionalism, energy, experience, qualifications and unique knowledge.

By: Mathew Butka

Alpine Lakes Real Estate - Thank you for your independent survey I was thrilled to be named to the top ten agents in the state of New Hampshire. Since I'm the Only broker in the firm who lives in Woodstock NH. I will assume you intended to name me individually as your #8 agent based on Service , performance, reputation and customer satisfaction.

As an independent real estate firm in the North Country, I attribute much of my recognition and success to blogging and social media connections.

Activerain : is my #1 blogging platform …and provides the lion share of my SEO results. So thanks to Activerain for helping me make it into this independent survey among much larger firms in my state.

P.S. all of the other 9 agents that made the top ten are also Activerain Members...we are batting a thousand.

Sometimes one sale can have a greater effect on a subdivision than "Just" a single transaction. Families are still willing to buy the right location when they see the long term value of that decision. Yesterday’s closed sale dispels any concerns for this slope side subdivision at Loon Mountain in Lincoln NH.

Pending site with a ski trail on the property closed for $415,000.

Site 38 has been pending for a month and is in the books now.

Custom Adirondack Home across the street called “Moose Run” was completed last year and also offers ski to your door access from the Loon mountain slopes. Designed & Built by our in-house contractor Cargill Construction We feel this exclusive recreational neighborhood has held its value very well and compared favorable with other New England resorts.

One of the other dozen homes Cargill has completed slope side at Loon is on site #62. This is a custom Post and beam,  modeled after the owners' primary home in Massachusetts…they liked so much they built one here.

Information on slope-side homes / homesites for sale visit our South Mountain web site Slope side development at Loon Mt.

    South Peak at Loon, 6 bedroom Home offering 4,000 Square feet and 2 car garage $1,295,000 Resale.

For all area listing in the White Mountains of New Hampshire access a property search by clicking on the MLS button at the bottom of this post.

November 21st, shows signs that the peaks are holding the snow, and plans for opening day at Loon are set.

   The Morning started off below the freezing mark, and that's good if you are making snow to open the ski season in the next two days. Loon Mountain will be opening for intermediate and advanced skier on Tuesday November 23. Why qualify the level of skier for opening day? Well in order to have some terrain to strap on the  boards...they'll make snow on upper trails. You'll be required to take the Gondola to the summit, and ski a limited number of trails to the East basin chair. From there you'll be able to make trips up and down where the snow guns have concentrated there coverage. At days end you'll have to take the gondola down to the bottom, as none of the lower trails will be ready for top to bottom skiing. As my friends that are chomping at the bit to get out there will tell you...It's better than not skiing at all!

  Here is a link to there web site LOONMTN.COM also check out the mountain cameras, real time snow making

Short Sale Listing Campton New Hampshire…close to the Holderness School the Blair covered bridge, and Waterville Valley Ski Resort.

SHORT SALE. A unique Contemporary home overlooking 400' on the scenic Beebe River that’s enhanced by a wonderful waterfall view as it charges over a 50' drop on its way to the Pemi River. In the spring it’s a magnificent sight to behold. It's located in a very private setting. The interior has vaulted ceilings and an open concept that is designed for today's lifestyle. Its many extras include: a large family room, tile floors, a fireplace in the bedroom, and a large master bathroom.You'll love this custom designed riverfront home with its very own “widow’s walk” high atop the house.

Custom Built Contemporary   Private Country Setting   Open Concept Kitchen   View Waterfall from Kitchen   Spiral Stairs in Kitchen   Tile Floor in Dining Room Subject to errors, omissions, prior sale, change or withdrawal without notice. Copyright 2010 Dick Clark       Cathederal Ceilings   Master Bedroom   Fireplace in Bedroom   Bright Bedroom   View of River from Bedroom   Loft Above Bedroom

This listing is in my Campton New Hampshire office: 800-926-5003 call for an appointment to see.

I like to play with photos, but not this time these are untouched (other than cropped or a flash) they are as they appeared in nature. The first shot should be easy to tell what and where it was taken.

  Easy...right Coral and a few obvious tropical fish, taken with my underwater camera (Barbados winter 2010).

      Now the next picture should also be easy...see if you can guess?

The only hint I'll give you is this one required a flash to get the color and texture I was looking for...

               Did you Guess?

        Did you scroll down already to see the next shot?

   Here is the reveal of what the heck the second picture actually was...ready?

                                Who guessed some kind of a strange mushroom growing out of a Tree?

 The tropical fish and coral photo that precedes the Fungus can really trick you. I think most people would have guessed photo number two was also an underwater shot, in a deep dark place rather than on a tree in New Hampshire. The only thing I like better than a dive in Caribbean water is a walk in the woods in my own back yard.

                                                                                                   The Fungus among us!!

 Some of the agent I have come across in the real estate business have figured out how to bait and switch their photos too. They can make a piece of crap property look like a mansion...truth in advertising is my motto if I publish it, it is what you will see when you look at the property.

Cute Mobile home for sale in Woodstock New Hampshire near Loon Mountain Ski Resort. This two bedroom two Bath 1,000 square foot home features 100 feet of river frontage for less money that any comparable condo in the area. The Seller is leaving it fully furnished and all the appliances are in great shape (washer /Dryer included).

The site offers town water & sewer and under ground utilities, and is 16,500 square feet in size. Plenty of room to add a Garage or other structure to complete your vision of care free water front ownership. Asking $139,900.

The Mobile is just being moved to the site, it sits on a concrete slab and will have all the skirting and a front and back deck built in the next few days.

This is the view from the kitchen slider...The town park is right next door it offers swing sets and play ground equipment. You can walk to the various restaurants and shops, and the Loon Mountain Ski area is a mere 3 miles away (Cannon Mountain 6 miles).

Don't want a condo, don't want to maintain a house...and would love to live on the water for short money...I have a perfect solution for all your needs.

   Call me for a showing appointment 603-381-7898....Thanks Steve Loynd.

                 Direct Link to Listing

The Flying Monkey opens in Plymouth NH

Every small town use to have a movie theater, many have rusted and faded away. This could have easily happened to this little two screen movie house in Plymouth. It is almost inevitable when age and repairs out pace income the sad reality is the locals are forced to drive to a mega-plex miles away.The trick was to find a patron of the arts who had an idea to make the venue profitable enough to work. The owner and founder of the Common Man restaurants Alex Rey is just that kind of visionary. I worked for Alex 27 years ago while I was in College, he taught me many things that weren't in the text books. Fast forward a quarter of a century, and the single Common man restaurant has grown to about 20 statewide. Many go by other Names the Town Docks, Largo's the Tilton Dinner...but they are all part of the "Common Man Family". When I was a Struggling College student, it was working for this family that pulled me through. So Best of Luck on opening night...I'll be there to see my friends and family and will happily plunk down the ticket price for admission. I look forward to seeing an old friend James Montgomary on stage with his band and other fantastic musicians. If you miss this show and want to see what is coming soon google the Flying Monkey in Plymouth NH or email the manager - lisamonkey@thecman.com

July 23 2010…Opening night of the Flying Monkey.

Legends of Rock n Blues - July 23

James Montgomery Blues Band

Featuring:

Michael Carabello of Santana

David Hull from the Joe Perry Project

The Uptown Horns of Rolling Stones/James Brown

While growing up in Detroit, Montgomery learned first-hand from masters James Cotton, John Lee Hooker and Junior Wells at the legendary Chessmate.  Over the years, he's carried on the tradition and continues to be a vital presence in blues as one of the most dynamic performers on the scene.  The James Montgomery Band has toured with The Allman Brothers, Steve Miller, Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, BB King, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker and Dr. John James, among others, and continues to sit in with the Blues Brothers Band.

  I'm looking forward to a great show, and a new venue for bands , movies and unique table side service with top quality entertainment in our small corner of the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

I Signed up for the Boston Rain Camp...                                                      

I've been a Realtor for 26 years and have done it all, transactions of every kind...I've taken projects from design to closing.

  I was a marketing major in College, and run a general brokerage company, with an Architectural design build team...specializing in custom Adirondack style homes.

  I have met the truly wealthy as well as the most down to earth people in the world.They are looking for quality time for family and friends. They have found their success and want to share in their good fortune with people they feel are part of their success.

I grew up outside of Boston, and now find I have some catching up to do.

I need to meet my new found friends in the rain, and I admit I am behind the times in the social media revolution, and blogging for success.

In a recent visit to Boston I took these photos you see in my post. As I began to look for  some that would express the city in a meaningful way, it hit me...these shots are an analogy for my need to-" up my game".

The old and the New coexist in many of the photos in my journey of the beautiful city of Boston.

Old churches among city skyscrapers...old bridges that bring people to the modern business centers...and old market places inhabited by vibrant young people (who juggle knives...while others just watch and marvel).

 So it is time to see a new way of doing business without abandoning the tried and true.

 I will listen to speaker who were in diapers when I passed my real estate exam. I have been through several economic cycles and waiting for the market to get better is not a strategy for success.

I have a fiduciary duty to my clients to be at the top of my game...and while every market is local, I want to be the best in my local market.

For my new found friends in Activerain, if you live in New England and you can't find the time to step up your game...don't fault me for trying. I live three hours north of Boston and this trip will take some planning, make no excuses and mark your calender.

 Click on the Raincamp icon on the top of the Activerain post, and follow the steps to sign up. I have booked my room for the night before at the hotel where the conference is being held SEAPORT BOSTON HOTEL
 

Seaport harbor view room.

If you arrive early or plan to spend the night, there is a lot to see in the City. Open the link below if you wish to see some more of the photos I took the last time I was in Boston.

    Sights and Sounds of Boston Enjoy the photos of Boston from a recent trip. See the Duck Boats, Prudential center, Fenway park and other great city landmarks.

South Mountain Resort…update and new news.

On Friday I completed a transaction that was 4 months in the making. The land sale was subject to a preliminary site and design approval by the architectural review committee at the resort.

 ....White Mountain views from Loon Mountain ski resort....

All sites have unique issues to deal with…We required a full house design, site survey and site plan to be submitted and accepted prior to closing. Naturally the buyers didn’t want to close if their dream couldn’t be achieved as they saw it. Home Site #34…Closed for $400,000 6/4/10.

 .....In house design build home next door to this site....

Site approvals, easements and licensing agreement…Oh My!! This mountain side site has direct access to a ski trail, which was one of the features that made the location so attractive. It also required the site development to take on special engineering considerations and additional approvals. We were able to attain a licensing agreement to build a ramp connecting the ski trail with the home site, and a joint drainage easement with a lot next door to share the cost of placing a seasonal run off culvert between two homes sites.

..lodge at South Peak, where a private lift will join the quad..

The New News came the following day…The developers of the South Peak Home sites announced at their annual meeting, that one of the yet to be installed lifts would be started and completed this year. This private home owner lift would allow many of the current homes the ability to ski or walk to a lift that would take them directly to one of Loon Mountains high speed quads. A lift to the slopes and access to ski back to your home at the end of your day will make this very special resort even better.

   ...you'll be able to walk to the new lift from this home...

If you are looking to buy, sell or build at South Peak resort on Loon Mountain…look no further. Alpine Lakes (&) Cargill Construction offers you one stop shopping. Marketing, design and building service under one roof. Book mark our new website, it will be up and running later this week, and will feature current listings and additional photos of homes we have completed at south peak resort. South Peak at Loon.