Redfin News has named New Hampshire’s Lakes Region as Number 6 in its “10 hottest neighborhoods in 2021.”
Coming in just behind Sebago Lake in Maine, Lakes Region statistics show that 44 percent of the homes there sold above their list prices.
“Normally, a lot of New England families leave the area when they go on vacation. This year, they’re sticking around and vacationing in the Lakes Region instead,” Redfin agent Julia Martinage stated. “They’ll spend a week at Lake Winnipesaukee and love it so much that they’ll put in an offer on a home. The Lakes Region has always been a hotspot, but it’s even hotter this year because no one can travel far. There are a lot of really quaint towns with cute ice cream shops and proximity to ski resorts. And in the summer, there’s hiking, paddleboarding, boating and kayaking.”
Martinage noted that people from Boston, New Jersey, and New York are buying second homes in the Lakes Region. “If you’re looking for water frontage, it will likely cost you at least $1 million, unless it’s a condo,” she said. “And million-dollar homes are getting multiple offers — sometimes as many as six or more. Most successful buyers are waiving every contingency.”
Ready for the Plunge
Teams are gearing up for the annual Winni Dip, a fundraiser for Special Olympics New Hampshire, which will take place between March 3 and March 7 this year.
Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type games for those with intellectual disabilities. The Dip is a major source of funding for the program.
For more information and to participate, email SpecialOlympics@sonh.org.
Homeless Still Left in the Cold
Efforts to establish a temporary cold-weather shelter for those who are homeless has stalled, Roberta Baker reports as part of the Sunshine Project. St. Joseph’s Church in downtown Laconia was ready to open with 15 beds as a temporary overnight shelter, but the project stalled Monday because it could not obtain insurance coverage until it gains designation as a nonprofit organization.
“The plan was to have a low-barrier cold weather shelter, which means people who have recently used drugs or alcohol would be welcome to stay,” said Daisy Pierce, the executive director of Navigating Recovery who led the volunteer effort through the Mayor’s Homelessness Task Force. “We will continue to work towards this goal, but for the time being we do not have plans to open soon."
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