Moving to Dover, NH, from NYC -- need advice (Rochester: renters, houses)

[Colebrook]

Hey Guys,

If you want backwoods head north for 4 hrs. Up to my neck of the woods, I'll show ya backwoods. LOL

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Brave Stranger

NH was "back-woods" not too long ago. Until the 1970s once you hit Salem it was a wall of woods. It was nothing like you see today. That is what lingers with some people. We were as rural as Vermont still is now just over 30 years ago when I was a little kid.

You should see all the new subdivisions and houses they have built in New Ipswich over the last 5-10 years. The very low density suburban/exurban sprawl is going even further west

[Brave Stranger]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

You should see all the new subdivisions and houses they have built in New Ipswich over the last 5-10 years. The very low density suburban/exurban sprawl is going even further west

Sad......I don't mind development, but NH has not done the best of jobs concerning sprawl.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Brave Stranger

Sad......I don't mind development, but NH has not done the best of jobs concerning sprawl.

I checked the MLS listings today and the new subdivisions are spreading north up to Greenville and Greenfield now in the Monadnock region. It is just crazy... They were super ugly cookie cutters as well.
Why are most newer construction houses so ugly No one can seem to answer that question

[nicolem]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

I checked the MLS listings today and the new subdivisions are spreading north up to Greenville and Greenfield now in the Monadnock region. It is just crazy... They were super ugly cookie cutters as well.
Why are most newer construction houses so ugly No one can seem to answer that question

Probably has to do with being cheaper-everything the same-no individuality so they can buy large amounts of the same product and it is quicker to put together than if they had some individuality and craftsmanship to it. They can have each guy come in and quickly do basically the same thing for each of the 40 or so houses and be done rather than having to do anything custom. Even if there is a little individuality it is in size or color-not much more than that.

[WannaComeHome]

I don't think Greenville has much room for cookie-cutter develpments. It's pretty much already packed! The stuff on Hemlock Rd hasn't even been built yet - those pics are all spec.

New Ipswich has a few roads that still have a lot of land (and if you look at a satellite view of the town, there's a lot of land in between the roads), some of those are getting built up a few a year. But the pace is much slower than the boom in the '80s. And oddly, in spite of that, it still has a small town feel - something DH was very surprised at. The new stuff is tucked away on off-roads, not right downtown on the through roads.

I check these two towns nearly twice a day- at least the first couple of pages.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by WannaComeHome

I don't think Greenville has much room for cookie-cutter develpments. It's pretty much already packed! The stuff on Hemlock Rd hasn't even been built yet - those pics are all spec.

New Ipswich has a few roads that still have a lot of land (and if you look at a satellite view of the town, there's a lot of land in between the roads), some of those are getting built up a few a year. But the pace is much slower than the boom in the '80s. And oddly, in spite of that, it still has a small town feel - something DH was very surprised at. The new stuff is tucked away on off-roads, not right downtown on the through roads.

I check these two towns nearly twice a day- at least the first couple of pages.

I understand what you are saying. However, check the MLS listings on the Northern New England real estate site for Greenville. I think a new subdivision is going in with dozens of lots.

[dubthang]

Dover is an excellent town. I lived there for awhile and would go back in a heart beat if I had a good job to go to. Kelly's Row is not actually full of UNH students. Dover is a gateway city of sorts. Gateway to the seacoast that is. Many people from Somersworth and Rochester go there to visit the bars. From my experiences, most of the unrulies are 'Northerns' down for the night out. The cops do a great job of keeping things under control. Make sure you go to La Festa. Best pizza around.

[WannaComeHome]

yeah, I see the Hemlock Rd stuff. But I don't think it can go in terribly fast - and... well, I feel kinda sorry for whoever buys them (seeing who the builder is, I've seen their quality on a rehab and I wasn't impressed). dunno if they'll ever get enough buyers to actually build the whole development they're hoping for. I don't know where they've put Hemlock Rd (obviously new: none of the maps know it), but it's got to be on the outskirts of town.

[minibrings]

Today is my first day as a NH (and Dover) resident. I arrived by 1pm and started looking for rental apartments after having a decent Thai lunch.

Has anyone been inside the converted mills that were turned into apartments (Sawyer Mills)? I also drove towards Rollinsford to check out a renovated mill house. I love old buildings.

I have always wanted to live in Maine (I used to go to Kennebunkport and Portland at least once a year to visit my best friend) but I've come to realize NH is a better alternative, when you look at taxation and closer proximity to Boston. I love the countryside!

My one gripe is rental offices seem to be open M-F from 9-5. You would think they'd be open late at least one night a week for people who work during the day to pay the rent?

I thought of Portsmouth but I think I'd rather be close to town, since its been a few years since I've actually driven in snow storms. In Toronto I did not drive as I used the subway (car stayed in heated garage) and in Adelaide we did not worry about winter weather (people wore winter coats on the rare occasion it went down to the upper 40s).