Seacoast (Hampton) - Potential Home Purchase - Quick Feedback Needed (Durham: house, neighborhoods)

[baltimoreguy1]

As I've mentioned in a number of previous posts, we are planning on moving to move to NH in spring/summer 2021.

As many of you know that live on the seacoast, listed properties are moving very quickly.

We found a property that we love (based on pictures and discussion with agent, nothing else yet), which might get us up there more quickly than we planned.

Due to covid-19 travel restrictions early on in some states (between MD and NH), we were unable to travel up to NH to do some physical research back in June and Aug, when we had initially planned. We were hoping to get up there in early Nov but then we saw this particular house that we love.

We are considering submitting an offer sight unseen (something I've never considered in the past). If we can come to an agreement with the sellers, I'll travel up for an inspection.

With that said, can anyone provide some quick feedback on personal experiences in Hampton, particularly on the west side of 95? Do you feel the congestion from the beaches on the west side of 95? How are the neighborhoods? We have two young boys and hope that the neighborhoods are welcoming to new kids. We plan to homeschool but I'm curious about the schools, too, since that always helps down the road for resale.

Thanks!

[Levi.Dunn]

As I pointed out in another thread yesterday, "traffic" is subjective. I personally find most of NH's traffic to be very tolerable compared to many places in the U.S. That said, traffic does build up on the 95 in the summer. I personally have never found it to be much of an issue on the back roads west of the 95, though. If there is more congestion it's only going to add about five extra minutes to the commute. I'll also throw in that the 101 is usually free of congestion. There are times when the 95 is bumper-to-bumper, but as soon as I get on the 101 it is smooth sailing.

Regarding schools: The Oyster River School district is one of the most coveted in NH. It's in Lee, Durham and Madbury. With that district you will be paying for high property values and higher property taxes. Please know that even though there are "better" school districts in NH, that overall NH ranks in the top few states for public education. So in almost any place you land it will rank high by U.S. standards, even if it's not high on the NH list.

[Luvboats]

Definitely check the neighborhood with GoogleEarth…….I'd do street view all around the area

[baltimoreguy1]

Thank you, both...good info and great ideas. We now have a contract on a home in NH (although not the same house I was mentioning in the initial post).

[LLCNYC]

Depending on EXACTLY where...

But mostly, hell noooooo to Hampton Beach.