Welcome to 2008! The end of 2007 has come and gone so I decided to only focus on the numbers for this blog. Has our housing market caved in? has the reputed bubble done burst? or not? That is the big question I am asked every day. The final numbers are in for what really happened in our local real estate market in 2007. Remember all real estate happens locally - so if the market somewhere else is in trouble don't focus on it - look at what is going on in your home town.Rockingham County, NH-Single Family Homes2007 Sold 2,675 homes in an average days on market of 134 for a median selling price of $314,514.2006 Sold 2,648 homes in an average days on market of 106.3 for a median selling price of $330,044So for all the media hoopla we saw 27 fewer homes sold in 2007 or less than a 1% change... 01/05/2008

So this week I'm over at Hilton Head Island for a little winter getaway. January beach view at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina I've just finished emailing a home inspection contingency release to a buyer after negotiating a cash settlement for some defects revealed during our home inspection back in Knoxville yesterday. I called my buyer via cell phone and instructed him to fax the signed copy to my MyFax email account so I can forward it to the seller's agent who is also back in Knoxville. Since we arrived Sunday I've also scheduled closings for the 3 sales I completed in December including emailing the contracts to all the appropriate parties, I have a second home inspection going on right now for the second sale and the third scheduled for tomorrow. The point of all this is to say... 01/03/2008

 If you love snow, then come on up to New Hampshire!  As of yesterday, we broke a record for the most snow to fall in NH in December.  That old record of 43 inches of snow in December, set way back in 1876, was broken yesterday afternoon, December 31, 2007.  The total for this December reached 44.5 inches of the fluffy white stuff. Of course, not all of the state actually broke that record, and some parts of NH went well over that record amount.  Concord NH, our state capitol, where the measurements for the state are recorded, is where the 44.5 inches was taken from.  Being here in Portsmouth, along the Seacoast area, we had less than that, but far more than we normally get in any one month.  As a matter of fact, we've actually already had more snow here than we generally get all winter... 01/01/2008

  Here in Portsmouth NH, we surely know how to welcome the New Year in style!  Lots of fun things going on around the area for the whole family, and some of it has already started!We just got a beautiful new coat of freshly fallen snow, so we're all dressed up in our finest white snow to ring in 2008!  It's gorgeous outside, the temperatures hovering around 32, so not too cold, and the sun is shining.....what a beautiful New Year's Eve Day!Come on out to the NH Seacoast area and join in the festivities!You have your choice of several fun events to take part in here in Portsmouth and the surrounding area.  Some of these start during the day, so you can have plenty of fun and then head home if you plan to ring in the New Year at home.  For those looking for some night time activities, you... 12/31/2007

To me, one of the beauties of Mother Nature is looking out on freshly fallen snow.  And if the sun's shining right after a snowfall, even more beautiful!There's something so magical about freshly fallen snow - the big flaky soft kind of snow.  It's quiet and serene, all peaceful and perfect.  Some of the beauty can be seen and touched, some can only be felt, and pictures never ever capture any of that the way you see it and feel it in person. I was out shoveling my back walkway this morning, and these words kept running through my head, "a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow".  I kept having those words run through my head, and finally figured out they're part of the Simon and Garfunkel song, "I Am A Rock".   While outside in snow like the one we just got and in the last snowfall, it r... 12/31/2007

We are all bothered and frustrated when we call somewhere and want desperately to talk to a "live person" and then get an automatied voice!! Yikes.....that drives me crazy....then you go through the whole process only to be left on hold waiting for anoth automative voice.  The other day I saw an articl that talked about getting a "live person" by going to www.gethuman.com  So the next time you are pulling your hair out waiting to get a live voice on the other end of the phone, check out this site it will tell you exactly how to get "a live person/human on the other end."What a unique idea! Patricia Aulson/www.patricia4realestate.com  Hampton NH Real EstateLic. NH/ME/MA Seacoast/Portsmouth NH Real Estate  12/28/2007

 Here in Portsmouth NH, we have our Annual Holiday House Decorating Contest.  It's a nice way to involve everyone in the community, and to just help foster great community spirit through this holiday decoratint contest.The contest for the best decorated Portsmouth homes throughout the city has been running for the last couple of weeks, with the final judging haven been done Monday night, the 17th.  The winners were formally announced Wedneday night on Portsmouth Community Radio,  106.1 FM.~~ Snow was falling while I was out trying to take pictures of the winners           Grand Prize winner:      353 Miller Avenue          Second Place winner:    239 Broad Street          Third Place winner:       383 Dennett Street          Honorable Mentions went to:              2 Nixon Circle       ... 12/22/2007

Real Estate Market Update -Week 7 For December 9-15, 2007 Rockingham County, New HampshireSingle Family Homes Total Listings Available 2,102 (Last Week 2,156) Price Range $74,900-$9,500,000 Total New Listings This Week 47 (Last Week 55) Price Range $74,900-$692,900 Total Pending This Week 32 (Last Week 31) Total Withdrawn This Week  27 (Last Week 43) Total Expired This Week 94 (Last Week 91) Total Sold This Week 29 (Last Week 25)CondosTotal Listings Available  951 (Last Week 981) Price Range $59,900-$1,337,000 Total New Listings This Week 9 (Last Week 38) Price Range $84,900-379,900Total Pending This Week 8 (Last Week 8) Total Withdrawn This Week 10 (Last Week 20) Total Expired This Week 27 (Last Week 33) Total Sold This Week 9 (Last Week 12)This information for Rockingham and Strafford... 12/17/2007

Christmas is fast approaching and I'm thinking that I'm going to be very good to myself over the holidays. I'm going to focus on what makes me happy. If that means going for a manicure, or a message.....so be it!  If that means a yoga class, reading a good book or sleeping late one morning.....so be it.  After this year particularly, I honestly think "I'm" the one that needs some TLC....and rightfully so.  Usually I'm reluctant to do these things for myself and pay attention to the task at hand and the other people in my family.  I love to take care and look after everyone but that stresses me out and I'm the one who  needs the attention.  With that said. I am going to do whatever I want to do at my pace, not someone else's and feel ok with this.  We women don't focus enough on ourselve... 12/15/2007

I was at the shopping mall today and it sure didn't feel like Christmas to me.  There weren't very many people there and it is a Sunday when people don't work and go to the mall to shop.  The atmosphere of Christmas was a low key one at best.   No bells, carol singers, Santa wasn't around......maybe it's in tune with the economy this year. People are only doing what they need to do this year and not extra.  Well I think that's ok.....Christmas is generally over done and the reason for Christmas, the birthday of Christ is overshadowed by the shopping, parties, etc. Perhaps this is a very good time to be very thankful for our blessings and focus on the birthday of Christ. 12/09/2007

Real Estate Market Update -Week 6 For December 1-8, 2007 Rockingham County, New HampshireSingle Family Homes Total Listings Available 2,156 Last Week 2,186) Price Range $94,900-$9,500,000Total New Listings This Week 55 (Last Week 58) Price Range $109,900-$999,500Total Pending This Week 31 (Last Week 26) Total Withdrawn This Week 43 (Last Week 38) Total Expired This Week 91 (Last Week 177) Total Sold This Week 25 (Last Week 57)CondosTotal Listings Available 981 (Last Week 995) Price Range $59,900-$1,337,000Total New Listings This Week 38 (Last Week 30) Price Range $94,900-$695,000Total Pending This Week 8 (Last Week 10) Total Withdrawn This Week 20 (Last Week 14) Total Expired This Week 33 (Last Week 42) Total Sold This Week 12 (Last Week 18)This information for Rockingham and Strafford ... 12/08/2007

 Holiday concerts abound in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas right now!  If you love Christmas and holiday music, you'll certainly want to make note of some of these concerts for some glorious holiday sounds.  **  Dec. 8 - Portsmouth Men's Chorus, performing at St. John's Masonic Temple at 7pm, in                        Portsmouth.                  - "Amare Contare" being performed at St. George's Episcopal Church at 8pm, in Durham.                  - "Sing We Joyously" performed by the NH Gay Mens Chorus at Christ Episcopal Church at                        7:30pm, in  Portsmouth. ** Dec. 9 - "Sounds of the Season" Holiday music, performed by the Seacoast Wind Ensemble                        at South Church at at 4pm, in Portsmouth.                 - "Amare Contare" performed at Ch... 12/08/2007

                                        THINGS BUYERS SHOULD KNOW WHEN CLOSING 1.  Homeowners insurance is necessary so apply early and get the paperwork done early.2.  Read the commitment letter all the way through.3.  Make it appoint to call the closing company/title company and be sure they have all addendums, especially those that pertain to price or seller paid concessions.4.  If somebody is a non-borrower but wants to go on the title, we need to get approval from the lender in advance.5. Remember a good faith estimate is an estimate- ask for it.6.  If money needs to be moved around from on account to another/out of state wired transfers, etc...make sure this is done a least two days before the closing. Don't wait for the last minute beacuse wiring funds takes longer than you think... 12/07/2007

The trees are here and ready for you to decorate! Every year the Portsmouth Rotary Club holds a major fundraiser by selling Christmas Trees, Wreaths and Historic Building Ornaments. For many families this is the traditional place to get their tree every year. Sales are open from 8am to 8pm in the Philbrick's Fresh Market parking lot on Lafayette Road in Portsmouth NH. The 200 plus members of the club (myself included) volunteer to take at least two tree selling shifts. Tree set up begins the day after Thanksgiving. It is often cold and blustery but a ton of fun is had by the members helping people pick out the "perfect" tree. Everyone thinks they are the pickest tree customer but they are all very happy to be there. We even help you cut the end and load the tree.This year we have Balsam... 12/05/2007

Real Estate Market Update -Week 5 For November 25-December 1, 2007 Rockingham County, New HampshireSingle Family Homes Total Listings Available 2,186 (Last Week 2,301) Price Range $94,900-$9,500,000Total New Listings This Week 58 (Last Week 54)Price Range $122,900-$1,495,000Total Pending This Week  26 (Last Week 31)Total Withdrawn This Week 38 (Last Week 35) Total Expired This Week 177 (Last Week 62) Total Sold This Week 57 (Last Week 28)CondosTotal Listings Available 995 (Last Week 1,000)Price Range $59,900-$1,337,000Total New Listings This Week 30 (Last Week 16)Price Range $89,900-$469,900Total Pending This Week 10 (Last Week 3)Total Withdrawn This Week 14 (Last Week 13)Total Expired This Week 42 (Last Week 25)Total Sold This Week 18 (Last Week 8)This information for Rockingham and St... 12/03/2007

If you're looking to live here in the Seacoast areas of NH and southern Maine, condo living in Portsmouth New Hampshire offers wonderful options for many people looking to make Portsmouth and the Seacoast their home.  Condominiums are perfect for those looking for low-maintenance living, for those who travel and want to worry less about their home, and they're also perfect for those looking for 2nd or 3rd homes for weekend get-aways and or vacation homes.As a New Hampshire REALTOR specializing in the Portsmouth area, I can assure you we've got a condo for everyone here! If you want to be right downtown in the heart of all the action, we've got studio-type living to luxurious penthouse living and everything in between.  Fabulous condo living can be yours right on the river or away from t... 12/02/2007

              The real estate market here in Portsmouth NH is a busy one, and we have homes in all sizes and price ranges.  We have some newer construction homes and we also have antique historic homes dating back to the 1600's and 1700's, and of course everything in between as well.We currently have 68 homes for sale in Portsmouth, and they range in price from $197,900 to $9,500,000.  Our housing styles in this area cover ranch styles, capes, garrisons, federals, victorians, New Englander (farmhouse styles), and colonials. Here are some pictures of some of the homes around town:          To see a sampling of homes that have recently sold in Portsmouth, see this beautifully and lovingly remodelled 1900's New Englander, and this simply gorgeous new hampshire luxury waterfront home.I've p... 11/30/2007

I really love houses - so much so one of my hobbies is to build gingerbread houses as a family activity. There is so much fun to be had while making a complete mess of your kitchen for days and weeks on end. Not to mention to overall sugar high you live on with Royal Frosting around. The kitchen table has not had any room for anything else during construction. Meals had to be eaten in the living room. Yesterday I delivered "Cottage on Snowflake Lane" to Strawbery Banke here in Portsmouth where they hold an annual gingerbread house exhibit and competition. This is our second year of creating a piece for the competition with my neice Clara and her mother Carolyn. Snowflake Lane is a modified Cape with family room addition sporting a blue licorice tiled roof, traditional fire pond in front... 11/30/2007

 The Christmas season here in Portsmouth NH is just full of fun events for kids of all ages!  Merchants decorate their stores, city workers deck out the whole downtown area and it is just beautiful.  And if we have a little dusting of snow, well that's just like the icing on the cake!Our downtown Christmas tree and all the beautiful downtown lights will be officially turned on this Friday, Nov. 29th, at 6pm.  If you're in the area, make sure to be downtown at 6pm for these fun festivities! In addition to all these fun December Holiday events below, make sure to check out the list of Holiday Fairs and Festivals in the NH & Maine Seacoast areas.  Most of them are on December 1st - have fun!!Nov. 29 - "Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting" - Market Square in downtown Portsmouth will be the pla... 11/28/2007

                     The start of the holiday season signals the advent of craft fairs, church fairs, holiday art shows, parades, and so much more, all with the holiday theme in and around the Portsmouth NH and Maine Seacoast areas!  We were lucky to have had a sampling of them just before Thanksgiving, and we've got even more coming up starting this coming weekend.  Nov 29 & 30 - Evergreen Fair at the Memorial Union Building (MUB) at UNH in Durham, 10am to 8pm and 10am to 4pm .... specially selected craftsmen and artists.These are all on December 1st:Christmas Fair at St. James Church Hall in Portsmouth, 9am to 3pm......crafts, yummy baked goods, gift baskets, raffles, silent auctions, and more.International Christmas Fair at Christ Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, 9am to 2pm ..... arti... 11/26/2007