Wakefield growth boom? (Concord: real estate, foreclosure, lawyers)

[GraniteStater]

I drove around a little last weekend and visited some the lakes region towns including Wakefield. It seems like Wakefield has a lot of new construction, and new developments. What is fueling this new growth boom? I also noticed via google earth that some rural areas are completely cleared for new development. I am a fiscal conservative and admire these low tax towns, but I also think it encourages a much faster amount of development as well.
Thoughts?

[Brave Stranger]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

I drove around a little last weekend and visited some the lakes region towns including Wakefield. It seems like Wakefield has a lot of new construction, and new developments. What is fueling this new growth boom? I also noticed via google earth that some rural areas are completely cleared for new development. I am a fiscal conservative and admire these low tax towns, but I also think it encourages a much faster amount of development as well.
Thoughts?

A large influx of baby boomers is starting to retire north of Concord. It's not going to stop, and worse, many of these towns north of Concord do not have good zoning laws on the books. I have seen with my own eyes lawyers from Boston come up here with builders and run circles around the small town zoning boards up here....very troubling stuff.

[fperkins]

I dont know, but as a real estate appraiser I can tell you Wakefield has a HUGE foreclosure rate right now.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Brave Stranger

A large influx of baby boomers is starting to retire north of Concord. It's not going to stop, and worse, many of these towns north of Concord do not have good zoning laws on the books. I have seen with my own eyes lawyers from Boston come up here with builders and run circles around the small town zoning boards up here....very troubling stuff.

I agree with you. I think many of the more rural towns do not have very strict laws with regard to zoning. Also, the low property tax rates encourage even more in-migration from out of state locales. A balanced apporach is generally good. 1) Good zoning is a key. 2) Conservation of land is great. (Trails, recreation, wetlands, etc.) 3) Moderate, well-planned developments fit better into the existing infrastructure that is available. What I don't understand is when the developers get over-zealous and clearcut a huge tract of land for development. I don't think this is popular with many people at all.

[Brave Stranger]

NH has always been very, very pro-growth. And that's good & bad. Back in the day it helped set-up a stable job situation, and NH has grown like gangbustes for the past 40 years.....but at the price of its rural feel I'm afraid.

[GraniteStater]

Here is the Wakefield example: Notice in the center of the image a huge clear cut area for development. I recognize the landuse pattern due to my extensive background in Geographic Information Systems.
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?wi...ZydG9wPTAlN2Uw

[buck naked]

let's face it....Wakefield has some of the best views! I agree that a lot of the new developments are retirees and vacationers. Since 911 there has been an influx of people into the great white north. VT is going through some of the same transitions.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by buck naked

let's face it....Wakefield has some of the best views! I agree that a lot of the new developments are retirees and vacationers. Since 911 there has been an influx of people into the great white north. VT is going through some of the same transitions.

Yes, but the Lakes Region of NH tends to have a much stronger amount of in-migration from around NH, New England, and abroad due to its lower tax rates. VT has generally seen much lower population growth and in-migration rates over time. This growth in the Lakes Region puts increasing pressure on infrastructure and natural resources. Luckily, NH is strong on conservation, and many areas will not be developed.

[Brave Stranger]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Yes, but the Lakes Region of NH tends to have a much stronger amount of in-migration from around NH, New England, and abroad due to its lower tax rates. VT has generally seen much lower population growth and in-migration rates over time. This growth in the Lakes Region puts increasing pressure on infrastructure and natural resources. Luckily, NH is strong on conservation, and many areas will not be developed.

I don't think NH is really strong on consevation at all ? As opposed to VT we are terrible. Maine does a better job than us IMO. I can show you right now hundreds & hundreds of acres of land ripped up around the Lakes Region that were cleared for housing that most likely will never be buit on. It's a mess !

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Brave Stranger

I don't think NH is really strong on consevation at all ? As opposed to VT we are terrible. Maine does a better job than us IMO. I can show you right now hundreds & hundreds of acres of land ripped up around the Lakes Region that were cleared for housing that most likely will never be buit on. It's a mess !

Compared with VT and ME New Hampshire is not strong on conservation. I agree with that! To be more clear NH is actually better at conserving land compared with other regions of the country, especially the southeast.