Eastman Real Estate Blog

It’s very hard to believe that half of 2010 is behind us. Two of the best things I can say about this year is the weather has been mild, not that much snow and finally a real summer with heat and sunshine. More importantly home sales are up HUGE!!!

Sales are up just over 225% when you compare the first sixth months of 2010 to 2009. In 09′ there were just fourteen home sales compared to 32 home sales this year. The first 6 months of 2010 equaled the entire amount of home sales for the year in 2009. How does that sound for an improving market?

As for condos and land the numbers are not nearly as good. In the same time periods used for home sales, condo sales totaled 3 in 2010 and just 2 in 2009. Land sales, there was only one in 09′ and 2010 has seen 2.

Here is where the debate comes in: Has the market really turned? Web site traffic is down, sales are up. Is the buyer pool stronger because only the most financially sound buyers are left? Did the tax credits that the government had in place really drive sales? Now that the credits are over will sales drop? Are web hits down because the tax credits have ended?

This is what I see in the micro market of Eastman with observations of the Upper Valley and New London/Lake Sunapee mixed in.

May was most likely the quietest May I will ever see. At least lets hope so!! June started off slow but finished strong. The activity I see in my office has been steady to fairly busy. The mid priced home is no longer a non existing market. There has been several homes in the $350,000 to $550,000 price range that have gone under agreement. There always seems to be some action in the sub $200,000 range. Currently the selection of Eastman Lake waterfront homes is down and it would be good to get some inventory in that category. ($500,000 plus with good water access)

I think land sales are down for the obvious reason. Why build when you can buy existing for less?? Condo sales? No that’s a good question. Are sales down because of the maintenance fees? Are buyers looking at homes and just see better values than a condo? There are some great prices on Eastman condos but can buyers be watching their monthly dollar expense so closely and they are not figuring for repairs on a home making a home look inexpensive?  Home maintenance is not a monthly expense but it still adds up by the end of a year?

I can not understand why condos are so over looked right now. Maybe the vacation buyer has really been taken out of the market? If that’s the case than condo sales will remain slow until those buyers come back. About 75% of Eastman condos are vacation homes.

OK enough typing, home sales are up HUGE and that’s GREAT news!!

The newest listing is a wonderful 3.34 acres parcel of land that has over 160′ of lake frontage.

This is one of the last, true, Eastman Lakefront building lots in the Eastman Community.

Would you like water views like this? Would you like to live in a community that offers a lake, 18 hole championship golf, tennis, hiking and biking, cross country skiing, right out your back door?

Come take a look at Eastman, you will not be disappointed. For more info go to wwww.jeffadie.com

There are some very positive numbers here if your a seller. The real estate market has improved dramatically since last year. Here are a few numbers for you to look at.

From January 1st, 2009 through May 31st 2009 there were nine homes and one condo sold. For the same time period this year twenty six homes have sold and 3 condos sold.

That’s nearly a 300% increase in sales! If we can keep this pace up, there will be 62 home sales this year. That’s not a bad year at all.

Condo sales are better than last year but still seem to be lagging the home market. If we figure our average sales for most years, totals of over 20 units a year, this year we are on pace to sell a total of 7. That’s not good, but condo selling season is just getting under way. I am confident that by years end, sales in condos will be respectable.

Kayaking Eastman Lake 5/31/10

There has been plenty of recent chatter Eastman condos and what’s for sale.

Currently there are thirty four units actively for sale. Of those there are only a few with good water views. If you don’t want to pay the water view premium then the selection is very good, and pricing is in your favor.

Prices start as low as $154,900!!! Your would have never seen a price this low four or five years ago. Even two or three years there would have never been 13 condos priced under $200,000

Condos that stand out form the crowd due to their water view are 15 Pleasant and 30 Bay Tree. If your looking for move in condition where you shouldn’t have to do a thing? Then you want to see 802 Covered Bridge Ln and 52 Black Duck Spur. Both these condos have a water view and both are very clean and ready to go. 802 has a third level with sliders that let you out steps from the lake.

If you are interested in looking at any of the condos mentioned or any of the others that are currently available then please call or email me, jeffadie@gmail.com and I would be glad to set up a tour.

The probability of finding Eastman Real Estate that will work for you could not be greater. As of this post

Fall Morning Mist On Eastman Lake

(3/30/10) there are 90 homes currently on the market in the Eastman Community. Since it is very early in the spring season I expect over the next few weeks, we will break 100 homes for sale.

If you are a buyer this is great news! To be able to have a choice or several choices of quality homes in your price range is something that rarely happens. Over the past few years buyers have been lucky with this gift of choice. This year could be the best ever for choice. I think that sellers patients are running out and and trying to ride out the down market is just taking to long.

Buyers should be embracing this opportunity not questioning it! A few years ago buyers were buying a house just because if they didn’t someone else was right behind them waiting to put their money down. Most buyers in the early 2000′s didn’t even like the home they were buying with out saying, “we can change this or fix that”.

What about waterfront? Everyone would love to own on the water if they could. A few years ago there just wasn’t many homes to choose from. The properties that were for sale had huge price tags on them. Now there is affordable choice. Just around Eastman Lake there are several options for homes. Water front condos are available also with several options to choose. If condos are something you might be interested in than there are 32 available units to look at. All but two of them are priced under $300,000. There are some water front units priced under $225,000

The choice is yours!

This is an overview about the Eastman Community. As the saying goes, often imitated but never duplicated. This community is one of a kind….

A 3500 acre four season community centrally located between the college towns of Hanover, NH (Dartmouth College) and New London, NH(Colby Sawyer College) known as the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region. There are about 1000 homes and 336 townhouse style condominiums surrounding the 325 acre Eastman Lake. Residents that live here come from all walks of life. There are young families, working couples, empty nesters and retirees.

Eastman Lake is located in the center of Eastman. Swimming and sunbathing can be enjoyed from any of the six beaches. Canoeing, sailing, fishing and kayaking can be enjoyed by all. Even Loons love Eastman Lake. Most summers there is a nesting pair that raise their young on the lake. The lake is speed restricted to 10mph.

South Cove Activity Center is the new jewel of the community. It is a new building that opened in July of 2009. The design and look is amazing. The indoor heated swimming pool, fitness center with all new equipment, WiFi Internet, flat screen TV’s, community rooms are being enjoyed by the community residents. Yet there is NEVER a growd like you might find at other gyms or fitness centers.  Another huge plus is the recreation department no has a permanent home which they desperately need. The best part is the building is LEED certified for energy efficiency.

The Center At Eastman is home the Bistro Nouveau, an outstanding restaurant, the golf pro shop that becomes the ski touring center in the winter.

Eastman Golf Links is 18 holes of championship golf. Major improvements took place in 06′-07′ and the course has never been better.

Tennis is another summer activity that you will find many residents taking part in. There are 12 courts in the community. Five of the courts were built in 2007. Hard True surface is the preferred surface and there are 8 courts now that are Hard True.

Miles of nature trails can be accessed from many different locations. The “Lake Trail” is just that. I like this one the best. It is a real hiking trail for 3/4 of the way around the lake. The last 1/4 is a fire lane that is a little less adventurous, which is just fine with most people, especially when there a bit tired. Other trails abound through the forest and are well marked so it is easy to find your way.

The sports field area is home to the soccer, baseball/softball fields and basketball court.

Cross Country Skiing is right out so many back doors. Easily accessed and miles of trails. Beginner to expert skier, all will be happy on these trails.

Ice Skating, when the lake freezes that’s great, but Eastman maintains a skating pond right near the Center At Eastman. So if you don’t want to shovel there is a place to skate.

Sledding, this is New Hampshire. You have to have a sledding hill! There are certain areas on the golf course where sledding is allowed.

I can go on and on……. If you would like an Eastman Info packet please sign up for one and you will receive one in a few business days. If you would rather come for a visit, I would be glad to take you on a tour.

I thought I’d try embeding a video on the blog. It’s quick and has some nice shots of Lake Sunapee and Newbury Harbor.

Lake Sunapee Newbury Harbor NH

We had out first measurable snow last night. At least snow that looks like it will stay around for a while. Click the link to see some photos. MT Sunapee is gearing up and they are making snow. The focecast is for cold weather so I bet the snow guns will be blazing this week. Enjoy…

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2026528&id=1240999330&l=b4ef71771f

I put together some photos of Eastman Lake. Click the continue reading button to get the link to YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTs2WfT9_Ho

If you are looking for a vacation get away but don’t want all the responsibility of owning a second home, maybe a Eastman Condo is the way to go.

There are 336 Eastman Condos in the community. Some of the best lake views can be had from these condos, along with ease of access to the entrances and proximity to the new South Cove Activity Center. There are 6 different floor plans, square footage varies from 1100′ to 2500′. Most units are either two or three levels. On a rare occasion you will find some additional living space on the third floor. There are 9 different condo groups in the community, group size range from six units to as many as seventy seven. Each group has there own name, East Lake, South Shore I etc., there own by-laws and governance and there own special flair.

If owning a vacation property is something you have been thinking about then taking a tour of the community would be worth the time. Eastman is less then two hours from Boston MA and Burlington VT. From Manchester NH it would be just over an hours drive.

If you are not sure what Eastman is then please read my blog “The Eastman Community, What’s it all about?” or sign up for a Eastman Info Packet. I would be glad to mail one out as soon as I receive the request.