Rental Potential ?

[spoonful]

Our work takes us away at any time during the year, from one to four months at a time, except from mid-December to mid-January (though during most of that time we'd be in NY/NJ visiting family).

Do you think 20 minutes to a ski resort (like Gun Stock) makes a good winter rental? Halfmoon Lake is a minute walk from the Alton home so I assume that's good enough for summer rental.

Where is your log cabin?

[Ken E]

A place on Halfmoom would probably rent any time of year. Thats a nice area. I always thought Halfmoon was in Barnstead.It must be right on the town line. Gunstock is not to far away but the larger mountains would a little bit of a drive. Halfmoon pond is a nice quiet area. The only traffic in that area would be people going up RT 28 towards Alton. Halfmoon also has some decent fishing. My cabin is in Effingham between Province Lake and Ossipee Lake.

[spoonful]

Originally Posted by Ken E

My cabin is in Effingham between Province Lake and Ossipee Lake.

There was a house we were thought to look at in that area on Ossipee River, in Freedom. Is that river swimmable? We liked that it was right on the water (and liked the name of the town) but weren't sure if that area was conducive to renting, ie., a place people think to 'vacation.' Plus, it seemed a tad too far from the ski resorts to rent in the winter. (I'm assuming your current cabin rental is more of a long-term rental?)

[Ken E]

Freedom is a beautiful town. I'm not sure about the Ossipee River but i think anything up that way is very swimmable.Freedon is not that far from skiing, Mt Cranmore, Attiash, Wildcat Shawnee Peak are all within drivable distances.I grew up in N.H. and would consider that area an awsome place to vacation. There are some really neat small ponds on some of the back roads in that area.I rented my cabin with a six month agreement and then month to month after that so when i sell this place down here i can move right back.

[nhfinehomes]

Hello. I'd recommend the western side of Winnipesaukee, like Moultonborough, Meredith, Center Harbor. Even if you're not directly on the water, you're in the more desirable, 'rentable' side of the Lake. It is easier access to I-93 and Route 25 is a well traveled, year-round road for visitors to the Lakes Region as well as Conway. Mark Borrin, owner of Preferred Rentals, has been managing vacation rentals for several decades. I'm sure he could tell you what areas are the most popular when it comes to rentals. They manage several hundred properties each season.

Link Moser

[spoonful]

Originally Posted by nhfinehomes

I'd recommend the western side of Winnipesaukee ... the more desirable, 'rentable' side of the Lake. It is easier access to I-93 and Route 25 is a well traveled, year-round road for visitors to the Lakes Region as well as Conway ...

Thanks for that bit of info. (And thanks ken and jthibodeau.) We were sort of thinking the same thing, to stay on the western side, as it seemed somewhat easier to get to, especially for us coming from New York city (which we'll need to do a few times a year).

Unfortunately, one of the homes we were interested in in Moultonborough is now under agreement. But the one we really like in Alton is still on the market (over a year now! -- not sure if that's a good thing, though it'll help when we make an offer, but that's another post). It's not quite the same area but we really liked the house and the price/property taxes.

We'll be heading up there for New Years to check out the house again and spend some time in and around Alton. I'll contact Mark at Preferred Rentals to ask about rental potential on Halfmoon Lake in Alton (and see what else he recommends).

[NH2008]

Originally Posted by spoonful

There was a house we were thought to look at in that area on Ossipee River, in Freedom. Is that river swimmable? We liked that it was right on the water (and liked the name of the town) but weren't sure if that area was conducive to renting, ie., a place people think to 'vacation.' Plus, it seemed a tad too far from the ski resorts to rent in the winter. (I'm assuming your current cabin rental is more of a long-term rental?)

The river is lovely and definitely "boatable" but most people swim in Loon Lake - which is gorgeous but much more expensive than riverfront property. Loon Lake is also a wake-free lake so it wouldn't appeal to renters who want to waterski and have big boats. Many of the backroads to Loon Lake are closed during the winter and not all the houses are year-round. There are a lot of newer houses (maybe 1960's) on Round Pond which is directly across the street from Loon, but it can be leech-y. Both of these lakes are right in town. If you go a ways out of town, you'll find Lake Ossipee, which is by far the most built-up lake around, allows wake, has lots of big motorboats, a gas station right on the water, etc - and for that reason attracts a totally different crowd than the in-town lakes. It wouldn't be my cup of tea, but I would assume a house there would have the most rental potential over the summer.

Freedom is a pretty good drive from skiing (King Pine in Madison is close, but quite small.) Nearest skiing is in North Conway, which is about 30 minutes away. Nearest airport is 1 hour+ away (Portland, ME). Nearest supermarket is a good 20 minutes away. There is a convenience store not too far away.

All of the towns in that area have lakes - if you're looking for something in a small town, consider Eaton (great general store, lovely lake) or Madison too. Holderness might also be an option (Squam Lake.) But I would think a house in Wolfeboro or North Conway would have the most rental potential. Not because I'd want to live either place, but because those are the towns people have heard of, and most renters (I would think) are going to want to get out and "do stuff" like shop, go to restaurants, etc. Even those who want to just hang out might want to be closer to the action or the grocery.