Hanover/Lebanon areas- but more reasonable (Manchester, Londonderry: real estate, homes, teaching jobs)

[nanciegord]

We are just several days away from beginning our trip from FL to NH to find great places for our three-family family to live. Our plans are to spend a week in the White Mountains (Lincoln) for R&R, then to visit these three areas: 1) Hanover/Lebanon 2)Londonderry/Manchester and 3) Keene. The realtors we're working with in 2) and 3) have sent us loads of properties to look at online, many of look good, in our price range (2 families -our kids- $250, and my dh and me, $350). The realtor we were supposed to see in Hanover/Lebanon sent us properties that looked terrible. I am assuming that this means these areas are way too expensive for us. However, we don't want to discount this area entirely without knowing it really is out of the question. What we really need to know (and the realtor doesn't seem to get this) is are there other nearby towns where we can get more for our real estate dollar, but have great communities and great schools? Great places for our children to raise their children? We don't want to look north of Hanover. We are coming from So. Fla., so we are used to high real estate, but the properties the Hanover realtor sent us to look at were not good for $350. We are not looking for land, we're not looking for fixer-uppers as we are not inclined that way, unfortunately. We're looking for nice, well-maintained, comfortable homes in good areas.
If anyone can give me names of towns close to Hanover that you would recommend to us, I would really appreciate it.
Nancie

[~Boo~]

I don't have suggestions, but wanted to say....Enjoy your trip!!

Say hello to the White Mountains for me!!!

I hope someone can offer you some towns or information that will help you!

Best to you & good luck.

[skytrekker]

The Hanover-Lebanon area is higher due to the proximity of Dartmouth College.

[mrswiz]

We had friends who moved from South Florida (the husband is orginally from NH) to Plainfield, near the Hanover/Leb. area. They love it there, and are very happy with the school.
Good luck with your search.

[Sporin]

I say get another Realtor. There are plenty of nice properties in this area fro 250-350 not in downtown Hanover, but certainly in the surrounding towns. Don't forget to look in VT as well, Hanover & Lebanon are right on the river/border.

Watch out for the property taxes! They vary from town to town and can really impact your bottom line.

You are looking at some pretty far flung places. Do you have jobs here yet? Due to our winters I HIGHLY suggest you get a job first then live as close to that job as you can. It may only be an hour or so from Leb to Keene but believe me you WON'T want to do that in the winter.

[nanciegord]

Thanks to all that replied.We'll be doing the move with two families moving first (all teachers) and the other family a little later. We are figuring that teaching jobs won't be terribly hard to find. We are doing this move to help out my daughter and son-in-law, who have a 9 month old special needs baby - they need the support and help from us, and we're all willing to do it.
I will check out Plainfield - thanks for the recommendation. Any further suggestions for anyone would be appreciated. We leave tomorrow morning.
Nancie

[NH2NCMom]

Nancie

If I may ask, is there a reason you are staying on the western side of the state vs going a little more central to even eastern just above the populous area but still south of the "mountain region" which is where the line is going across to hanover (that you didn't want to go North of).

Some of us might be able to give more suggestions if you were willing to move more to the "right side" of the state A lot of good schools and hospitals and support groups for special needs children on that side as well. Good luck.

[notdancingqueen]

We looked at Hanover initially and avoided it for the same reasons you noted. We were quite happy with schools in Sunapee, New London, Wilmot/Wilmot Flat, N. Sutton and other towns (e.g, Newbury) that feed into Kearsarge Regional (in that area, pretty much everything except Sunapee -- Sunapee has its own district.) All of those towns have a different feel to them so you need to see which -- if any -- suit you best.

The realtor I sent you in my DM can help you in this region -- again, she is *fabulous*

Good luck! - Jackie

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by notdancingqueen

We looked at Hanover initially and avoided it for the same reasons you noted. We were quite happy with schools in Sunapee, New London, Wilmot/Wilmot Flat, N. Sutton and other towns (e.g, Newbury) that feed into Kearsarge Regional (in that area, pretty much everything except Sunapee -- Sunapee has its own district.) All of those towns have a different feel to them so you need to see which -- if any -- suit you best.

The realtor I sent you in my DM can help you in this region -- again, she is *fabulous*

Good luck! - Jackie

I would also appreciate it if you could send me a DM regarding the realtor contact for that area as well. Thanks.

[gradRun]

I drove through Andover last weekend, seemed like a pretty town and it has Proctor Academy in it. Depends how close you want to be from Hanover - there are a couple of nice towns relatively close by, you should defiantly find something nice and in your price range. Try around Canaan, New London, Meriden, Orford etc.

If you're traveling from Lincoln to the Hanover area, try taking 118 to 25 and then onto 91. It's a very pretty drive, over mountains and through some small towns. You can grab 118 right out of North Woodstock.