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Hi. Now that we are approaching retirement, we want to move to New Hampshire and return to the quiet, beautiful, four-seasons life. We have lived in suburbia (Torrance, California and Littleton, Colorado) for almost all our adult lives, but we did live in rural Maine (Bridgton) for three years from 2004-2007, so we know that we can handle the culture shock. We don't mind the cold at all, and we like things like taking nature walks and reading and playing Scrabble; and our idea of a great night out is a good steak dinner and a movie. We would go to Boston or Manchester for a weekend once a twice a year to attend a symphony or theater performance and go to a museum or two. We are not "snobs" at all, just "solid" middle-class, down-to-earth people -- socially liberal, fiscally conservative, agnostic introverts (but friendly).
However, the BAD thing about "living rural" in Maine was the fact that there were no city utilities, and we REALLY missed those! Anyway, we are now narrowing our search to Laconia, Keene, and the suburbs of Manchester, Concord, Nashua, and Portsmouth. However, we will consider any place that has public utilities, but a small town "feel". We are looking for something with a LAKE view (waterfront preferred) in the $250-$350K range -- depending on how much "fixing up" is required. Our only other requirement, besides public utilities, is a wood-burning fireplace.
Another question I have is: How hard and expensive is it to convert a three-season "camp" into a year-round home? And that brings up ANOTHER question: How good are the contractors in New Hampshire. We had a contractor in Maine who was a disaster, but finding ANY contractor near Bridgton was very difficult. And we learned to our shock and sorrow that there was no regulation of contractors in Maine. Can anyone tell me if that is the case in New Hampshire?
Thanks to all in advance for anyone who answers!
Last edited by katharsis; 01-03-2014 at 02:44 PM..
"We are looking for something with a LAKE view (waterfront preferred) in the $250-$350K range"
good luck - double the budget and you might find something.
Lake views mean HIGH taxes. Check with Avatar - the people that set the tax rates for views.
I suggest scouting properties through NNREN.com - you may get a better idea of what is available.
General building contractors do not need a license in Maine. You'll need to be licensed to do asbestos abatement work, or electrical or plumbing contracting.
NH has no requirements for building contractors either. Same as Maine.
Only Asbestos Abatement, Electrical and Plumbing Contractors need to be licensed.
Hi. Now that we are approaching retirement, we want to move to New Hampshire and return to the quiet, beautiful, four-seasons life. We have lived in suburbia (Torrance, California and Littleton, Colorado) for almost all our adult lives, but we did live in rural Maine (Bridgton) for three years from 2004-2007, so we know that we can handle the culture shock. We don't mind the cold at all, and we like things like taking nature walks and reading and playing Scrabble; and our idea of a great night out is a good steak dinner and a movie. We would go to Boston or Manchester for a weekend once a twice a year to attend a symphony or theater performance and go to a museum or two. We are not "snobs" at all, just "solid" middle-class, down-to-earth people -- socially liberal, fiscally conservative, agnostic introverts (but friendly).
However, the BAD thing about "living rural" in Maine was the fact that there were no city utilities, and we REALLY missed those! Anyway, we are now narrowing our search to Laconia, Keene, and the suburbs of Manchester, Concord, Nashua, and Portsmouth. However, we will consider any place that has public utilities, but a small town "feel". We are looking for something with a LAKE view (waterfront preferred) in the $250-$350K range -- depending on how much "fixing up" is required. Our only other requirement, besides public utilities, is a wood-burning fireplace.
Another question I have is: How hard and expensive is it to convert a three-season "camp" into a year-round home? And that brings up ANOTHER question: How good are the contractors in New Hampshire. We had a contractor in Maine who was a disaster, but finding ANY contractor near Bridgton was very difficult. And we learned to our shock and sorrow that there was no regulation of contractors in Maine. Can anyone tell me if that is the case in New Hampshire?
Thanks to all in advance for anyone who answers!
Your BEST bet if you want a town with the stability and peace of mind of continued LOW taxes over long periods of time is Moultonboro. The town coffers are lined with $$$$ from extremely high valued lake front properties, thus the tax rate is lower for all property owners that are a bit further removed from the lake. The town does frequent reassessments of properties, and many non lake frontage properties were reassessed at lower rates following the big bubble years post 2008.
Access to the lake can be found through the Kona Preserve which is right off Kona Farm Rd.
"We are looking for something with a LAKE view (waterfront preferred) in the $250-$350K range"
good luck - double the budget and you might find something.
Lake views mean HIGH taxes. Check with Avatar - the people that set the tax rates for views.
I suggest scouting properties through NNREN.com - you may get a better idea of what is available.
General building contractors do not need a license in Maine. You'll need to be licensed to do asbestos abatement work, or electrical or plumbing contracting.
NH has no requirements for building contractors either. Same as Maine.
Only Asbestos Abatement, Electrical and Plumbing Contractors need to be licensed.
Thank you for the suggestions and contracting advice! I looked through NNREN, and I WAS being unrealistic thinking we could get a home with our requirements for less than $350K! (Plenty of homes with septic/well, though, but we are just not willing to ask for trouble!)
And thanks for the info about the contractors, too!
Thank you for your suggestion. I looked up Moutonborough, and it's a nice town, but I think that would be TOO small for us, based on our experience in Bridgton, Maine. Something between 10,000 and 25,000 population would be ideal for us, we think.
Thank you for your suggestion. I looked up Moutonborough, and it's a nice town, but I think that would be TOO small for us, based on our experience in Bridgton, Maine. Something between 10,000 and 25,000 population would be ideal for us, we think.
Thank you for your suggestion. I looked up Moutonborough, and it's a nice town, but I think that would be TOO small for us, based on our experience in Bridgton, Maine. Something between 10,000 and 25,000 population would be ideal for us, we think.
However, it is a short drive down highway 25 to Meredith & Laconia that have a combined population within the range you mentioned...
If you desire city water and sewer you could also look within the town limits of Meredith as some properties there a bit removed from the lake are more reasonable.
All the other areas out in the country or town limits will be private well and septic. Most roads are town maintained and plowed unless they are a private association and that would imply yearly or monthly fees for maintaining condition of road and plowing.
Portsmouth or Durham sound good to me. I would be a little bit concerned about Portsmouth as being expensive and kind of yuppie (apologies if I offend anyone but it seems that way.) I'm not that knowledgeable about Durham but it's a beautiful area.
If it doesn't have to be New Hampshire, there are a few towns on the NH/MA line that are fairly cheap. One is Amesbury and it has lakes. Another one is Salisbury and there are fixer uppers and old cottages near the ocean with a lot of them for sale because people got scared off by last winter's storms.
A good thing about living on the NH/MA line is that NH has high property taxes but no sales tax. So you live in MA and you shop in NH.
Portsmouth or Durham sound good to me. I would be a little bit concerned about Portsmouth as being expensive and kind of yuppie (apologies if I offend anyone but it seems that way.) I'm not that knowledgeable about Durham but it's a beautiful area.
If it doesn't have to be New Hampshire, there are a few towns on the NH/MA line that are fairly cheap. One is Amesbury and it has lakes. Another one is Salisbury and there are fixer uppers and old cottages near the ocean with a lot of them for sale because people got scared off by last winter's storms.
A good thing about living on the NH/MA line is that NH has high property taxes but no sales tax. So you live in MA and you shop in NH.
Thanks for the info!!
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