WELCOME to my wonderful part of this great world we live in, Portsmouth New Hampshire and the surrounding areas of coastal NH and southeastern Maine!! 

I appreciate you stopping by my blog and checking out my posts.  You'll find all sorts of posts here, some to do with life, most to do with real estate.  Stop by, visit, and feel free to comment and/or ask questions.  I love blog visitors, and want you to feel welcome in my world, real estate in Portsmouth New Hampshire!!

Thanks for visiting for a bit, and for checking out my world!
Ann

Ann Cummings

We all want to be DEBT-FREE, and here are some tips to help you do just that

We all know how hard it can be to manage our own finances.  Been there, done that!  I just didn’t know how, until someone showed me the way, and I’ve never looked back since that turning point. 

These tips may just help you find your way to being debt-free, if that’s your goal:

1)      Pay your bills when they’re due every month – this is so hard to do at times, but it’s so very important to not pay your bills late & rack up late fees and credit blemishes.

2)      Learn to live on less than you make – you must learn to put some money aside in order to have money in the bank.

3)      Think twice before whipping out that credit card – if you use credit, have a plan for paying off your balance(s).  It took me a LONG time to pay off my balances that I had built up, but I did, and I now pay my balance off every single month.

4)      Have a plan for where and what you’ll spend your money – you need to know how much you make and how much you need to live on.  You may need to make a change in your spending habits if you want to be debt-free.

5)      Set up a savings account for emergencies – 3 to 6 months’ of basic living expenses is what is recommended.  You never know when you’ll need to replace an appliance or when you might be out of work.  Start small and build this account up.

6)      Have financial goals – if you don’t have goals, you’ll never get where you want to be.  You should consider setting both short-term and long-term goals to help you achieve not only debt-free status, but those goals will also help you go forward toward building that nest-egg for your retirement.

7)      Learn how to make your money grow and work for you – take classes, read books and investing magazines, find a great financial planner – make your money earn more money!

I’ve walked in the same shoes as those looking to be debt-free – and I can very proudly say I am DEBT-FREE, except for my mortgage!  I pay my credit card balance off every month, I learned to live under my means, and I can tell you it’s a very satisfying feeling to know I have money in the bank.

Here’s to your success in achieving the same satisfying feelings!!

Ann Cummings
1-888-349-5678 x 3839

WELCOME to the quaint little town of Exeter New Hampshire!  A drive through the center of Exeter will make you feel like you're right smack dab in the middle of a Norman Rockwell painting!  Exeter is part of the Seacoast area of New Hampshire, and has a wonderful welcoming community spirit.

Located just minutes from commuter routes - 5-7 minutes to I-95, right off Route 101 (the major east-west highway) - this is a perfect spot for those looking for the great quality of life New Hampshire offers and are working out of the area.  Not only does Exeter have terrific access for highways, you can hop on the Amtrak Downeaster and head south to Boston or north to Portland Maine.  Commuting north, east, south, or west just doesn't get much easier than it is from Exeter!  The University of New Hampshire is just about 15-20 minutes away, in Durham.  Exeter is just minutes away from area beaches along the ocean.  And it's just 15 minutes from all that Portsmouth has to offer!!

Exeter is just loaded with all kinds of history!  Did you know that Exeter used to be the state capital of New Hampshire?  It was indeed, during the Revolutionary War!  Exeter was incorporated in 1638, and was at one time quite a ship-building center and West Indies trading port.  Exeter was also where the modern Republican Party as we know it was founded back in 1853 by Amos Tuck.

The first time the census was taken, Exeter recorded 1,722 residents.  It's grown a little over time, with a year-round population of just about 14,700 now.

        
    These are just some of the beautiful historic homes and buildings that can be found all around Exeter!

Real estate in Exeter is pretty diverse, from mobile homes to condos to single family homes to multi-family homes, as well as land and commercial properties.  There are presently 74 single family homes offered for sale, ranging in price from $229,900 to $2,250,000.  Days on market for these homes is averaging 167 days.  There are presently 11 homes under agreement, and those range from $269,000 to $575,000.  The average sold price for the last year on single family homes in Exeter was $433,313, and the average days on market was 104 days.

There are 84 condos presently for sale, and those range in value from $89,000 to $635,000, average days on market 162.  There are currently 9 condos under agreement, and those range in price from $114,900 t0 $389,900.  The average sold price of condos in Exeter for the last year was $199,908, and the average days on market was 116 days. 

Exeter is home to the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy, founded in 1781 by Colonel John Phillips.  This private secondary school serves students in grades 9 through 12, with the students coming from all over the world.  In addition to the campus being an absolutely beautiful addition to the beauty of Exeter itself, Exeter residents enjoy great benefits from the Academy.  As a resident of Exeter, you're able to use a number of the Academy facilities for free - library, tennis courts, musicals & plays, and much more. 

Exeter Hospital is a leading healthcare hospital offering a full range of comprehensive services, including a health and fitness facility.  And as if that weren't enough, the cafeteria in Exeter Hospital has been written about as offering food so good that locals go out to eat there!  They were even written up in the paper awhile back because their food was so good!

Downtown Exeter is just as quaint as it can be - lots of cute shops and great locally-owned restaurants, as well as one of the few remaining old-fashioned theaters with a soda fountain in it!  All of this is located right along the banks of the Exeter River.  The Bandstand, right in the heart of downtown, is the site of many community-centered events - concerts, fundraising, and more. 

It's no wonder so many people love living here and making it their HOME!!  If you're interested in exploring the charm and history of Exeter further,  ........... I'm at your service!!!

Ann Cummings
1-888-349-5678 x 3839

We've got a brand NEW Library here in Portsmouth, and it just opened this morning!!  It is just a beautiful building, both inside and out.  The landscaping still has to be done, and that will be taken care of in the spring.  Even without that, it's gorgeous!

I took this picture this weekend of the sign made by the Portsmouth Middle School, which is right next door to our new library.  I thought it was really cute to see this, and a great indication that everyone has been so looking forward to opening day!

I just got back from a very nice guided tour of the library, and there are so many really neat things that we now have that our old library just didn't have the space to offer.  It is probably one of the nicest libraries I've ever been in!

The new library is in a great location - it's right next door to the Portsmouth Middle School, and it's a really quick walk to all the downtown neighborhoods.  Sidewalks line the streets, so kids don't have to walk or ride their bikes in the street to get to it.

With 38,000 square feet of space, compared to 15,400 in the old library, there's plenty of room for all kinds of really neat features that just couldn't be accomodated before, and there's room to grow, too.  Right on the first floor, there's a cafe area with vending machines and it overlooks the courtyard area.  There's a kids department that has lower counter and bookshelves to make it really kid-friendly, along with activity rooms and story-time rooms.  The library also has a new teen section, set up just for teenagers with lots of windows and some really cool curvy seating areas for them.  There's a new section "Today's News", featuring newspapers and magazines, as well as an extensive reference and periodical section on the 2nd floor.  A large video section is now available, just as if you were in a video store, and there's a new music collection of CDs for adults.  Another new section is devoted to large print books and audio books.  One feature the staff is especially proud of is the special collections department - it now has a large room to make it much easier to see all the collections on local history.  This room is really nice as it has a beautiful view of the North Mill Pond.

There are several meeting rooms that can be used by the public, there's a multi-media room available, lots of comfy seating areas all over the building.  There are internet-access computers just about everywhere you look, and there's a copying/printing room as well.  You can use any of the library's computers, or you can bring your own laptop and use the free wireless network if you choose.  And for everyone's comfort and convenience, yes there are restrooms in very convenient locations.  We know how important those are!  This library just makes you feel welcome and at home - you walk in and you just want to stay awhile.......that's a great library!!

            

Our new library is a "green" library building, one of the first in New England.  It's referred to as a LEED Building, which is 'leadership in energy and design".  LEED is a voluntary design technique put out by the US Green Building Council.  The building uses mostly natural products - the bookshelves are ash wood, most of the trim is fir wood, there are loads of windows everywhere letting in tons of natural light, and most of the windows open so fresh air can circulate when possible and weather permits.  It does cost more to build a 'green' building, but it was worth it!  This library will serve our town well for many, many years to come.

This new 'gem' is truly a source of pride for all of us who live here in Portsmouth.  It's been a LONG time coming, but from what I saw today, it was WELL-WORTH the wait!  The search for a new location began way back in 1986, and here it is, 20 years later, a beautiful reality!! 

This library, as well as all the other area benefits, help to make my job selling homes in the area so much easier.  If you come for a visit, you'll love it!  I can safely tell you that, because I've lived here for 28 years, and I LOVE it here!  Every time I go on a trip, I enjoy where I am, but I just love coming back home!

If you're interested and would like to check out the during-construction pictures, check this link out.

I read this in today's paper, and thought it was so true - "Libraries are special places.  They need to be treasured."  No truer words could be spoken, and our new Portsmouth Public Library will be cherished and treasured by residents and visitors alike for many many years.

Ann Cummings

You've made the big decision to offer your home for sale, or it's already on the market for sale.  You've done all the things your REALTOR suggested you do to make your home show at its best.  And it looks good.........

But is it really SAFE for showings?  It's really easy for us, as we live in our  homes, to work around the idiosyncrasies of our own homes.  But can we expect strangers to do the same, especially strangers who are looking at our homes as potential buyers for it?

Take a good hard look at your stairways, if you have any.  Is the railing a little loose?  Are there stair treads that you've been meaning to replace but just haven't really noticed how frayed they are any more?   You've gotten used to the worn treads on the stairs, and know to lift you foot just a little higher on that one step to avoid that edge that's lifted up a little.  Any any of the light bulbs in the stairways burned out?  And those area rugs in the hallway are a little slippery unless you step just so on them......

If your house has kids in it, you know how easy it is to not see toys here and there because that's part of your every day world in your own home, and you know where they usually are so you just automatically step over or around them.  Potential buyers aren't aware of those nuances, and might not see that little toy car or that cute little stuffed animal that Santa brought.

When you go to hang up your coats in the closets, you know to duck just a little in case one or two of the hats up top fall out, or in case one of those games stacked up on the top shelf comes tumbling down.  Potential buyers have no clue what might be waiting for them when they innocently open a closet to check out the space they'll have if they choose your home as their next new home.

Don't forget the basement!  Make sure the lighting down there is as bright as it can be - you don't want any buyers or their agents tripping over things, or hitting their heads on any pipes that might be a little lower than they'd expect.

If you live in areas where you enjoy the beauty of winters, then you're accustomed to snow and ice, and how carefully you have to walk on it.  BUT, potential buyers could be relocating from anywhere, and may not appreciate walking through the snow if they don't have snowshoes on.   They actually may not even know how to drive or walk on it, as they may never had lived anywhere where it did snow!  Take some extra time and make sure your walkways are shovelled and kept clear of snow and ice.  If the only way into your basement is through an outside bulkhead, make sure there's a pathway shovelled to that.

While we're talking about the outside of your home, please clean up messes left by the family dog.  You know where your dog likes to do his business, but potential buyers and their agents don't.  Most of the time when we're checking out the exterior of the house, we're not looking down, we're looking around at the house.  Then it's too late, and that really doesn't sit too well with potential buyers, and most assuredly homeowners don't want that tracked around inside their homes.  I know I sure wouldn't!

Take a walk through your home and look for little hazards like these that may be a liability for you as a homeowner.  Tighten the railings - place nonskid mats under rugs - straighten up the insides of closets - make sure toys are put away safly - change any lightbulbs needing replacing - clear drives & walkways.  We all live with little things like this, but when it comes to selling your home, you want to remove as many potential liabilities as possible. 

Safety for showings on your home is important!  If someone is injured while looking at your home, they could sue you for damages.  Fortunately, this doesn't happen often, and it's easy to take the necessary steps ahead of time to avoid potential nasty situations as much as possible.  It's so much better to be safe than sorry with just a little bit of effort ahead of time!

When selling homes here in Portsmouth New Hampshire during the winter months, I suggest to sellers that they keep a shovel near the front door, and some ice melt handy.  In the event it snows while they're at work, and I have a showing before they can get home, I'll clear out a path for us to get to the house, and having those tools handy, sure makes it a little easier to do my job for my clients.  Working together as a team helps to get the job done!

Ann Cummings
Portsmouth, NH

It's really very easy to fall in love with 
Portsmouth New Hampshire, and the  whole Seacoast area!   

We have so much to offer both residents and visitors alike.  As a matter of fact, many buyers I've worked with over time initially came here as visitors, returning again and again, and then decided to make Portsmouth their primary home.  And it's no surprise they do, if you ask me!   ;-)

 
Five GREAT reasons to make Portsmouth YOUR home:

~~  Portsmouth has a terrific location!  We are right here on the coast of New Hampshire, just 45 minutes south of Portland Maine and 45 minutes north of Boston, Mass.  The closest snow skiing is an easy 30-40 minute drive to Gunstock Ski Mountain.  The coast, with our beautiful beaches and Atlantic Ocean, is right here at our doorstep.   We've got great highway access for all major commuter routes, airports in 3 cities are less than an hour's drive and we have a small airport right here in Portsmouth, Amtrak rail service is just 15 minutes away.

~~  Portsmouth is just full of all kinds of things to do year-round!  We've got parks, multiple theaters and venues for all kinds of productions - plays, musicals, concerts, etc.  Loads of shopping abounds all over the place, and we've got just about every kind of dining right here in Portsmouth that you can think of!  Spring through Fall, our Seacoast Farmer's Market runs every Saturday - a great place to buy fresh local produce, make new friends, and meet up with old friends. 

~~  Portsmouth has great schools, including a beautifully renovated and expanded high school.  We have 3 wonderful elementary schools, serving the various neighborhoods around town.  And to add to all that our schools have to offer, we have a brand new beautiful library right next door to the Middle School.  In addition to our great schools right here, we're only a few minutes away from the University of New Hampshire, located in Durham.  UNH has one of the prettiest college campuses you'll ever see!

~~  Portsmouth offers great housing opportunities of all kinds, with a home to fit everyone's needs.  Being in New England, we have all kinds of antique homes as well as lovely new construction homes, and everything in between.  We've got great condos - both conversions as well as newly built, in all price ranges.  We have plenty of homes for buyers to choose from, and with today's interest rates what they are & prices a little lower than they were last year, it's a GREAT time to be a buyer!

~~  Portsmouth's economic environment is great!  We've got many great businesses here in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas.  Over the last few years, a number of high-tech businesses have relocated to this area, causing this area to be dubbed the "e-Coast".  Our downtown area has free wireless set up, a perfect environment for businesses and business people who love being downtown.  They are looking into expanding this further to encompass more of the downtown area as well going into some of the neighborhoods close to downtown.  Plus here in New Hampshire, we have NO income tax nor do we have a sales tax!!

And as if all those reasons weren't enough to convince you Portsmouth is a great place to call home, we've got a FABULOUS Little League Team!! 

Come to visit - come to STAY because you'll want make Portsmouth New Hampshire YOUR home!  Once you're here, this area just makes you fall in love with it, and this just helps to make my job that much easier!

Ann Cummings                 

Portsmouth New Hampshire Homes

MEMED AGAIN!!!

Last night, I was "memed" the first time, thanks to being tagged by Moo, aka Angus Woodbury of Naperville, Ill.  I looked this afternoon, and Tony Marriott had gotten me again, AGAIN!!!  I had a hard enough time coming up with the first 5 things I wrote about......

I bet you're wondering just what on earth "meme" is.......I wondered the same thing when I first read about it, too.  Thanks to Mary McKnight explaining it on her blog, many of us now know what this strange word means.  Each of us who've been tagged have to tell 5 things about ourselves that very few other people know.

So, here goes a list for my SECOND set of 5 things:

  **  I sang soprano in my high school chorus

  **  I was Captain of the Color Guard in high school and I always carried our school flag when we marched in parades, games, etc.

  **  I am the oldest of 5 girls in my family.  We even had a girl dog and a girl cat while growing up....my poor dad - he was TOTALLY outnumbered!!

  **  I worked in retailing - juniors & misses upscale clothing & management - before I came into real estate 25 years ago.

  **  I rarely eat vegetables - there are very few I like enough to eat them - green beans, acorn squash, raw carrots, tomatoes, croutons, french fries - that's about it.  My favorite drinks are ice cold water, Diet Coke, and Coors Light.....yep, a beer-drinker!  ;-)

Well, now you know even more about me than you did from my first list, which was posted on my Active Rain blog!

It's now my turn to tag 3 more people, and I now tag:
             Sue Melhorn
             Real Estate Tomato
             Fred Salzer

    ANNUAL HOLIDAY HOUSE DECORATING  WINNERS ANNOUNCED!!

  This morning's Portsmouth Herald announced the winner's of the "Citywide Neighborhood Annual Holiday House Decorating Contest".

The top prizes went to the following Portsmouth homes:
~~ 1st place winner - 84 Blue Heron Drive, in the Osprey Landing neighborhood.
~~ 2nd place winner - 163 Rockingham Avenue, in the Frank Jones neighborhood.
~~ 3rd place winner - 1180 Ordiorne Point Road, in the Tuckers Cove neighborhood.

The Annual Decorating Contest is open to all Portsmouth residents in the various neighborhoods around town.  Each neighborhood submits their area winners, and then the judges of the contest drive through Portsmouth viewing the top entrants in each neighborhood.  They then make their final selections from that group of decorated homes.

The prizes awarded the top 3 winners were provided by various businesses around town - Atrezzi Fine Kitchen Accessories, Maine-ly New Hampshire, South Street and Vine, Home Depot, and Applebee's.

For something fun to do, take a drive through town and check out the top winners in the partipating neighborhoods around town:
 ** Little Harbor Area - 2 Brackett Lane
 ** Christian Shores Area - 276-278 Dennett Street
 ** Frank Jones Area - 163 Rockingham Avenue
                                          617 Woodbury Avenue                                                                          
                                          1050 Woodbury Avenue
                                          86 Farm Lane
                                          710 Woodbury Avenue
                                          900 Woodbury Avenue
 ** Stonegate Area - 200 Buckminster Way
                                      91 Buckminster Way
                                      66 Buckminster Way
 ** Osprey Landing Area - 64 Blue Heron Drive
                                                63 Blue Heron Drive
                                               109 Osprey Drive
 ** Tuckers Cove Area - 180 Ordiorne Point Road
                                             120 Gosport Road
                                             210 Ordiorne Point Road
                                             175 Ordiorne Point Road
 ** Woodlands Area - 115 FW Hartford Drive
                                        355 FW Hartford Drive
                                        490 FW Hartford Drive
 ** Atlantic Heights Area - 120 Crescent Way
                                                144 Raleigh Way
                                                115-117 Concord Way
 ** Cutts Cove Area - 414 Leslie Drive
 ** Elwyn Park Area - 302 McKinley Road
                                        2 Nixon Park
                                        9 Coolidge Drive
 ** Islington Creek Area - 230 McDonough Street
                                               311 Cabot Street
                                               98 Brewster Street
                                               13 McDonough Street
                                               71 Brewster Street 
 ** Richards Avenue Area - 361 Miller Avenue
                                                   239 Broad Street
 ** Aldrich/Thaxter Area - 50 Sunset Drive
                                                29 Sunset Drive
                                                337 Aldrich Road
                                                954 Islington Street
                                                1046 Islington Street

Congratulations to all the winners!!!  I can't wait to get out there and drive by and see all these great decorations!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

New Portsmouth Library Set to Open!!

Our NEW Portsmouth City Library is scheduled to open on Monday, December 18th, and the grand opening will be January 7th, 2007.  If there's a snow storm on the 7th, the new grand opening date will be January 14th.

This is exciting because it's a fabulous building that's been in the making for a long time coming.  The location is terrific, right next door to the Portsmouth Middle School, and a very easy walk from downtown and all the downtown neighborhoods.

For more information on books that have been checked out, the hours of the new library, and all the programs being offered, check out this link.  You can also call the library at 427-1540.

Great news, and I'm really looking forward to seeing it open! 

Magical Mistletoe

Have you ever wondered about mistletoe - where it comes from, how it came to have the romantic magic it does?  I saw a bunch of it for sale somewhere recently around Portsmouth, and I got to wondering how a plant like that evolved into something with the magical powers that mistletoe symbolizes.

Did you know that mistletoe is really a parasite?  It is!  It's a parasitic shrub that's usually found in fruit trees, maples and sometimes in oaks.  And in North America, it's typically found in trees from New Jersey down to Florida.

Mistletoe has been associated with the holidays at this time of year going back for centuries, and has symbolized peace and love.

In ancient times, Druid priests thought mistletoe was a sacred plant because it grew in the air in oak trees, which was their sacred tree.  They would climb into oak trees and cut the mistletoe with golden sickles.  Worshippers below would catch it on white cloths before it touched the ground, because it was considered bad luck for even the tiniest piece of mistletoe to touch the ground.  It would then be hauled off for use in fertility rites and in cures for a variety of ailments.

In Norse mythology, the soldiers who met in battle under mistletoe would stop their fighting, kiss and make-up.  They had to put their weapons aside and exchange a kiss of peace, declaring a truce for that day.  The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe may have originated from this custom, and from the Druids, since both considered the mistletoe to be sacred.  Other beliefs in folklore say that a sprig of mistletoe placed over a baby's cradle would protect that child from goblins.  And another legend says that giving a sprig to the first cow calving after the New Year would protect the entire herd.

Greek mythology says that a bough of mistletoe plucked from an oak will guarantee safe passage to the Underworld.  In Swiss folkfore, it was shot out of trees with arrows for good luck, but had to be caught before it touched the ground.

Mistletoe has meant all kinds of things over the years.  The language of flowers shows it to be associated with overcoming difficulties.  It was believed to be a cure for epilepsy, since it doesn't ever touch the ground, it could prevent epileptics from falling during a seizure.  Native American tribes in the southwest drink a tea made from mistletoe to relax the muscles during childbirth.  Today, it's being researched as a drug to used to fight inflammation and cancer.  Who knows what it might be used for tomorrow......

In the 18th century, kissing balls made of mistletoe were popular, and continue to this day.  In the 1700's, the exchange of kisses between a man and a woman was seen as a promise to marry.  Getting caught under the mistletoe was supposed to increase a young lady's chances of marriage back then.  Their belief then was that a girl who wasn't kissed would still be single until the next Christmas.  I'm thinking "the times, they have a'changed"!!

Mistletoe was the state flower of Oklahoma until 2004, but it does still serve as the state's official floral emblem.

There's everything you could ever want to know about mistletoe!  And remember, if you're standing under the mistletoe, be mindful of what it COULD mean!!  ;-)

Here's another little snippet of Holiday History for you to read about!

Merry Christmas!!
Ann Cummings

                           Wreaths Across America

Fifteen years ago, a couple by the name of Merrill and Karen Worcester, owners of the Worcester Wreath Company, began donating wreaths for the Arlington Cemetery. 

Back then, they were the leftover wreaths that they had that were still fresh.  He didn't want them to go to waste, so he began sending them to Arlington.  This came about because when he was younger, he won a trip to Washington DC, and he always remembered the Arlington Cemetery from that trip.

He continued sending these wreaths each year, as his way of giving back to veterans because "without them, we would not have what we do today".

This year, 2006, is the first year that they've included other veteran's cemeteries around the country.  They've sent six wreaths, "one for each branch of the military with the sixth wreath to remember those still missing in action", to each of the country's veteran's cemeteries.

Some of the organizations helping to achieve the goal of getting all these wreaths to their destinations include: the Civil Air Patrol and the Patriot Guard Riders.  The Patriot Guard Riders have chapters in each state, and each state's chapter will escort the procession in that state to the border of the next state, until they reach Washington DC.  The Civil Air Patrol will ensure the wreaths are flown to all of the states with veterans cemetaries.  At least one school in each state is taking part, and wreaths have been sent to them as well for delivery and placement in the cemetaries.  The Blue Bird Ranch is providing the trucking to get these wreaths to Arlington.

All the wreaths will be laid on December 14th this year, and everyone is invited to attend any of the cermonies.  For those unable to attend a ceremony, a moment of silence will be held at noon on December 14th.  Here is a schedule of the stops along the Escort to Arlington.

We were very fortunate here in Portsmouth New Hampshire to have been one of the stops of this wonderful Wreaths Across America procession.  Our New Hampshire State Police and the NH Chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders met them to escort them to the Massachusetts border. 

                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
This video, posted on YouTube, put together by those who work at Worcester Wreath, tells the story of WHY they do this every year.  It is a beautiful tribute to our veterans, and is quite moving.  Please take a few minutes to watch it - it's well worth your time, I promise!

What a beautiful gesture the great folks at Worcester Wreath Company are doing - and what a great lesson to share with others about honoring our veterans and those who've given all on our behalf!  In the words of the Worcesters, "without them, we would not have what we do today".......   

                                 

  Looking to do some home improvements and/or repairs?  

Most homeowners typically think the only ways to pay for home improvements and/or repairs is to either pay cash or to put those expenditures on their credit cards.  Those may not necessarily be the best way for you to pay for them!

Consider these options:

~~  Home Equity Loan - This is a second mortgage on your property that's secured by the equity you've acquired in your home.  The rates on a home equity loan might be a little higher than your first mortgage, but these rates are typically better than you'll end up with on your credit cards.  Another big reason to consider this route is that the interest you pay on a home equity loan may be tax deductible.  Interest paid on credit cards likely isn't.

~~ Home Equity Line of Credit - This is a variation of a home equity loan.  With this type of funding, you get a revolving line of credit which is secured by the equity in your home.  You can repay the amount you borrow, and then you can use it again and again as needed.  This type of funding is really useful when doing major improvements/repairs where you have to make multiple payments over a period of time to contractors as they complete specified stages of the work contracted for.  You'll typically have a variable interest rate on this type of loan.

~~ Cash-Out Refinancing - For this option, you refinance your existing mortgage into a new mortgage that is made up of your original mortgage plus whatever the amount is you want to pull out for your home improvements/repairs.  This option may allow you to obtain a lower interest rate, and the interest you pay is typically tax-deductible.
     An example of this is:  you have a $300,000 house with a mortgage on it of $150,000, and you would like to have $50,000 to do improvements, etc.  You would refinance your existing $150,000 mortgage plus the $50,000 for improvements, making your new mortgage amount $200,000.  You'll receive the $50,000 as a lump sum amount when you close on your new mortgage.

Make sure you choose the right project to spend your money on.  The right improvement can dramatically increase the value of your home, and those types of improvements that provide the highest return on your investment include remodeling kitchens, bathrooms, and second story additions.  Take care not to over-improve for your neighborhood, and remember that too much personalizing of your house likely won't appeal to too many mainstream buyers when it comes to resale value.

If you have questions about improvements that you're considering and how they'll impact potential resale value, feel free to contact me, either via phone or email.  I'll be happy to set up a time to meet with you.

Ann Cummings
Portsmouth New Hampshire
603-431-1111 x 3839

Best NH Businesses to Work For

Business NH Magazine recently released their "Best Companies to Work For" list in New Hampshire.  Each year they put out a list of those employers who are considered the best to work for in NH, based on how employees are treated, recognized and valued for their contributions.

Two Seacoast area companies made the top 10 - Seacoast Harley-Davidson in North Hampton and Appledore Engineering, Inc. in Portsmouth.

Seacoast Harley-Davidson has been named to this presigious list six times.  Because of the number of times they've been recognized on this list, they were inducted into the "Best Businesses to Work for Hall of Fame".  Seacoast Harley-Davidson has 66 employees.

Appledore Engineering has also been named to this list three additional times.  Appledore was named "The Top Professional Services Company in New Hampshire" by the New Hampshire Business Review.  And in addition to these 2 very nice awards, Appledore was also selected earlier this year as the "Best Small Civil Engineering Firm in the Country to Work For" by CE News.

Business NH Magazine awarded these companies because of their strong employee benefits packages, and their winning strategies of putting employees first. 

The Timberland Company in Stratham and Wheelabrator Technologies, Inc., in Hampton were both named as semi-finalists for induction into the "Best Companies to Work For Hall of Fame".

Congratulations to each of these companies for their outstanding employee relations!!

Companies like these to work for, as well as all the offerings in this beautiful area of New Hampshire, help to make my job of selling homes such a delight!

Ann Cummings
http://www.portsmouthnewhampshirehomes.com/

Some Great Ways To Help Keep Your Carpets & Rugs Looking Their Best

The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends that you clean your carpets and rugs every 12-18 months, or thereabouts, to help keep them in nice condition.  To do that, here are some easy basic suggestions to help you:

~~  Vacuum your carpets and rugs at least once a week.  Ground in dirt is the worst thing for carpeting and rugs.

~~  Make sure to have entry mats at your doors that enter your home.  Consider removing your shoes in the entryway.  If you wear shoes inside your home, consider buying a pair that you keep just for wearing inside your home.

~~  Clean up spills as quickly as possible.  Try to scrape up or lift up as much of the spill as you, and then use a cleaning solution.  Make sure to work from the outside edge of the spill in to the center.  This helps to avoid making the spill area even larger.  And then after using the cleaning solution, blot the cleaned area instead of rubbing. 

~~  Dry the cleaned area by placing clean white towels or paper towels weighted down over the spot.  If you allow it to air dry, you may end up with a ring that forms around the cleaned area.

If I can help with any other suggestions for home-maintenance, give me a call or send me an email.  

Ann Cummings

Looking for something to do in Portsmouth?? 

We have three great theatrical treasures here in Portsmouth New Hampshire, and two of them offer year-round enjoyment for residents and visitors alike!

The Music Hall is a historic theater that was built in 1878.  It's the oldest theater in New Hampshire, and the second oldest theater in New England.  This beautiful 900 seat theater is one of only fifteen theaters built in the 1800s still in use in America. 

In its early years, The Music Hall was home to vaudeville performances and silent film shows.  Today, it offers a wide variety of offerings, from films, comedy, concerts, evenings with authors, and so much more.

In 2004, the theater went through a multi-phased, multi-million dollar restoration that returned this gem to its turn-of-the-century splendor.  Much of the beauty and original structural construction and design was able to be restored, as well as upgrades to technology, stage systems, and patron amenities that will enable this beautiful theater to continue offering fabulous programs for many years to come.

This is the stunningly beautiful restored arch above the stage.  It's called the "proscenium", and you just have to see this in person to see just what an amazing restoration job this was.

In 2003, the US Senate voted to include Portsmouth' Music Hall in the "American Treasures" because of its preservation and restoration work.

Some of the upcoming events are "A Vintage Christmas"; "A Celtic Yuletide"; "Holiday Pops with the NH Symphony Orchestra"; and "Clara's Dream - A Jazz Nutcracker".

Just a couple of blocks away from The Music Hall is another of Portsmouth's special little gems - The Seacoast Repertory Theater.  This theater in the round was orginally built as a beer and grain warehouse in 1892.  It was renovated into the theater we know today back in 1979.  Because of the size of this theater and due to it being a theater in the round, you'll experience a much more intimate setting here.

Boston Magazine has selected The Seacoast Rep Theater for their "Spotlight on the Arts Award for Best Year Round Theater" in the Seacoast.  They've won this award several times for their premier entertainment offerings.

Some of the upcoming plays on the calendar here are, "Miracle on 34th Street"; "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"; "The Spitfire Grill"; and a varierty of
other plays.  The schedule here usually has 3-4 different plays offered each month.

Both The Music Hall and The Seacoast Repertory offer annual memberships as well as ticket sales for each individual event.

We are very fortunate here in Portsmouth to have both year-round and summer theaters!
Our beautiful Prescott Park has offerings all summer long that include concerts, plays, story-telling, art shows, chili and chowder cook-off festivals, and more.

Come and visit us, and check out all three theaters!  With all the various offerings each has to offer, you'll certainly find something everyone will enjoy.  Once you've been here to visit us, you'll fall in love and want to make this area your home!! 

Ann Cummings

All About Portsmouth New Hampshire Public Schools

 "The purpose of the Portsmouth schools is to educate all students by challenging them to become thinking, responsible, contributing citizens who continue to learn throughout their lives."

Most buyers I work with moving into the Portsmouth New Hampshire area have questions about the schools - where they are, what the curriculum is like, what the student-teacher ratios are, what programs are offered at the different schools, etc. 

I've put together information on all of the elementary schools here in Portsmouth, as well as information on the Middle School and the High School.   You can access that information in here in this link. 

You'll find all kinds of information in the various links I've included on the schools that I hope you'll find very helpful as you explore and discover Portsmouth.

Ann Cummings
Portsmouth NH

MAKE YOUR HOME AS SAFE AS YOU CAN

Unfortunately, crime is no longer isolated to certain areas, it's become an issue that seems to be at the forefront of the news everywhere we turn.  And it can very unexpectedly land on your very own doorstop with no notice.  Take heart though, there is no need to feel you can't do anything about it!

Here are some simple but smart steps to take that can greatly increase the security of your home:

 ~~~  Keep your doors locked and make sure all doors have deadbolt locks of at least 1 inch to 1 1/2 inch.

 ~~~  Have 'pry-proof' locks on your windows.  I found some of these at both Home Depot and Lowes recently.

 ~~~  Keep the bushes and trees in your yard and right around your house trimmed so your windows and doors can be seen by your neighbors.  This helps in not having hiding places for potential intruders.

 ~~~  Keep all of your entrances well-lit at night.  You can purchase from a wide variety of inexpensive spot-light systems with motion sensors that turn the lights on when movement takes place within certain ranges.  You can also buy sensor lights that come on at dusk and go off at dawn or some other preset time.

 ~~~  If you're thinking about a pet, a dog would be a good choice.  Convicted burglars have been interviewed and have said that homes with dogs were the homes they broke into least.  Dogs can be a great deterrent for burglars.

Ann Cummings
Portsmouth New Hampshire

Be Safe During the Holidays!!

Did you know that Thanksgiving actually began in the United Kingdom, as their Harvest Festival?  It was later brought to America by the early settlers, and from there it became a much more important holiday than it had been originally.  The first celebration in America took place in Plymouth in 1621 by the Pilgrims, which was actually a form of the UK's Harvest Festival.  The first official Thanksgiving was actually in the Virginia Colony on December 4, 1619.  The first national Thanksgiving Day was proclaimed by George Washington and celebrated on November 26, 1789.

Take a trip with the Pilgrims and see how they made it to America, how they lived once they got here, and what their Thanksgiving feasts were like back in the 1600s.

Want to learn more about Thanksgiving and the history and lore behind it?  Take this quiz and see how you do!

Want to have some fun with some turkey trivia and see how much (or not) you know about the good old Thanksgiving staple?  
 ~~  Tom the Turkey   ~~  Be a "Top Turkey"   ~~  Turkey Facts Trivia

Here's some fun things for the kids and grandkids!!
 ~~  Games, Screensavers & Storybooks    ~~    Turkey Crafts    ~~   Stories, Games, & More

What to do with all those leftovers???????
   Check out these sites for ideas for leftovers and some great recipes - lots of yummy ideas here!!
        Even those ice cream mogels, Ben and Jerrys, get into the Thanksgiving fun!

And don't forget that fabulous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!!  My sisters and I so looked forward to watching this parade every Thanksgiving morning while my mom was putting together a fabulous meal for us.  As a matter of fact, I still watch this parade every Thanksgiving morning.....   ;-)

My wish to all of you is for a very Happy Thanksgiving!!

Ann Cummings
Portsmouth New Hampshire

                                    WELCOME TO NEW HAMPSHIRE!!

New Hampshire was named by Captain John Mason for Hampshire, England.  It was part of the original 13 colonies, and became the 9th state in the country on June 21, 1788.  We are one of the six states that make up New England.  New Hampshire was the first state to declare its independence from Great Britain, and it was the first to set up its own independent government, having done so in January 1776.  That fierce independence that NH natives are known for was shining through way back then!

"The Granite State" is one of 4 nicknames that New Hampshire is known by, and it's also the one most people know of.  This nickname came about because of the enormous amounts of granite formations and quarries throughout the state.  The other nicknames are "Mother of Rivers", for the five great rivers of New England that originate in NH's mountains; "The White Mountain State" for the White Mountain Range; and "Switzerland of America" for the beautiful mountain scenery.  Our state is certainly a very beautiful state!

Our state motto is "Live Free or Die", and most New Hampshirites take that motto very seriously.  This motto is relatively new, having been adopted by the General Court in 1945.  According to some, our motto is probably the best-known of all state mottos because 'it speaks to an aggressive independence inherent in the American dream, and partly because of its contrast to the mild sentiments usually found in most state mottos'.

This phrase came about from a letter General John Stark wrote on July 31, 1809.  He sent his toast via letter to an anniversary of the Battle of Bennington, in which he wrote:
                   "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils."

To learn a little about our logo in the middle of our state seal, "The Old Man in the Mountains", visit my friend Monika McGillicuddy's blog - we're missing him more each day!!

                                    

Our state seal is the broadside view of the frigate "Raleigh", with a granite boulder in the foreground, and a beautiful rising sun in the background.  A laurel wreath surrounds the picture.  The ship signified the state's emergence as a major shipbuilding center during war years.  New Hampshire's state flag has the state seal centered on a blue field surrounded by laurel leaves and the nine stars for NH being the 9th state in the country.   

                      The very fragrant purple lilac is our state flower.  Oh they smell so 
                      heavenly, too!!  Our lilacs come in a variety of colors, but the purple lilac
                      is the one that is most prevalent here in NH.  When they're in bloom, I
                      like to grab a bunch of them and bury my face in them so I can inhale
                      that heavenly scent.......if you've never smelled fresh lilacs, you're really
                      missing a real treat of Mother Nature!!

These are just a few historical tidbits about my state of New Hampshire!  Check out the links I included to learn even more, and even better - watch my blogs for more posts about this place I call HOME - Portsmouth New Hampshire!!   

Ann Cummings
http://www.portsmouthnewhampshirehomes.com/