June 30, 2009

The Spa at the Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods NH

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I have been meaning to get over to the new Resort Spa, which opened in November, for some time now. My husband had given me a gift certificate to enjoy a treatment, but it was one of those things that I just hadn’t found the time for.

It was my daughter’s 19th birthday and I decided a day at the spa would be a perfect gift – one that we both could enjoy! We arrived, as requested, a half hour before our treatments. We were greeted at the reception desk and were escorted back to the Ladies Lounge. We signed in and then were given a tour of the facilities available to us including locker and changing areas, showers, sauna & steam rooms, lounge area to relax before and after treatments and an outdoor hot tub. This spa facility is by far, the most elegant; warm & inviting, calm and relaxing spa I have ever visited. The women’s lounge is absolutely beautiful - warmed with soothing sea blue and beige tones.

I opted for the Mount Washington Signature Body Ritual as my first treatment. While I had no real idea of what this involved, I thought exfoliation and re-hydration sounded like just what the doctor ordered after the seemingly endless winter we had this year. What an experience this was! Definitely two thumbs up!

I met my daughter back in the Ladies Lounge where she looked as relaxed as I felt. She had just come from an aroma massage which sounded equally wonderful. We had a chance to sit and relax in the ladies lounge, enjoying a glass of water or two and basking in the state of total relaxation for a bit before we were off to our next treatments. Another 75 minutes of sheer bliss with a re-hydrating facial!

I highly recommend a visit to the Spa! I would suggest you do not plan ANY activity afterwards! Bring a book, go with a friend, spend a few hours after your treatment relaxing in the lounge, or if the weather permits, outside by the hot tub. You definitely want to give your body time to get back up to speed!

I am certain that this is the best birthday gift I have ever given and the best gift I have ever received!

To find out what properties are available that will put you just minutes away from all the amenities available at the resort please visit our website

Posted by:Michele Penner



June 30, 2009

It's the Peabody & Smith Customer Appreciation BBQ and You're Invited

Posted to Chrissy Smith, Events & Activities

It’s our annual Customer Appreciation BBQ this Friday night from 4-7 pm at our Franconia, NH office. While we have this in Franconia, it’s open to all our clients and customers from all of our offices - this space in Franconia has the biggest lawn! Stop by and enjoy something from the grill, a beverage, cake and more. Its a great time and every year we serve 200 or more people. So stop by, we’d love to see you!



 

Posted by:Chrissy Smith



June 29, 2009

Commercial buildings sold in St. Johnsbury, VT

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We had the pleasure last week of closing a commercial complex on Eastern Avenue in St. Johnsbury. Windhorse Commons, located at 105-107 EasternAvenue transferred ownership on Tuesday from Windhorse Commons Development Company, LLC to Laurence Rossi of Woodbury, Vermont.

The three buildings are all historically significant, and one building is completely leased. We are pleased to be handling the leasing of the rest of the property, which includes some professional office space and one of the other buildings lends itself to restaurant possibilities. We would be pleased to show the property to interested parties.

This was a great opportunity to sell such a truly unique property. Windhorse Commons is a cluster of three architecturally unique properties in the heart of St. Johnsbury, VT. The offering included three buildings, The Carriage House, Octagon Building and The Annex. All the buildings were well maintained and lovingly updated to preserve the beautiful old world charm while offering all the modern amenities. The site also has plenty of on site parking and within easy walking distance to St. Jay’s Business District, The Catamount Theater, St Johnsbury Academy, and other attractions.

     

In the last ten months, this sale represents that we have sold $3,250,000 of commercial property in the downtown St. Johnsbury area. This sale involved all of our commercial brokers, Mary Doherty, Steve Horan and myself.

We have a dedicated Commercial Department that consists of three broker/sales associates and is based out of our Franconia, NH office. We focus on the sale and lease of commercial properties throughout New Hampshire and Vermont and also specialize in business brokerage throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. To see our current commercial properties, visit us here.

To learn more about downtown St. Johnsbury and the area, visit this great website from Downtown St. Johnsbury.



Posted by:Andrew Smith



June 19, 2009

The Bretton Arms Inn & Restaurant at the Mount Washington Resort

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The Bretton Arms Inn at the Mount Washington Resort is open again! Those of us familiar with this fabulous resort Inn and restaurant have been anxiously awaiting this. We had the pleasure of dining there recently with friends. The menu is new, but the charming atmosphere and exceptional service remain.

We started our evening enjoying a glass of wine in the Club Bar. Comfortable seating in an intimate setting, it is certainly a perfect spot to unwind before dinner, or to enjoy an after dinner drink.

When ready for our meal, we were escorted into the dining room, where we were seated near 2 other parties already enjoying their meals. There was a large group with young and old alike next to us, celebrating a birthday. While we all joined in the singing of Happy Birthday, once finished we continued on with our conversation unaware that we shared the room with others.

With an extensive and award winning wine list, you may need some assistance in picking out just the right wine for your meal. Don, has the expertise to do just that for you. Don recently returned to the resort fulfilling the role of Dining Room Manager for the Bretton Arms, after most recently spending his time at the famous Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island, Michigan. You will also find him working in the Club Bar, a man of many talents! We left our wine choice up to Don and were not disappointed!

The menu is a gourmet experience not to be missed. Appetizers include oysters, seared foie gras, heirloom tomato caprese and a soup choice. My husband and I have been dieting recently and just did not want to push it, so we decided against an appetizer, worried we would get too full to enjoy the main course.

There are 4 salad choices and all of them looked delicious. I opted for the spinach salad which had toasted almonds, macerated figs, boursin cheese crumbles with a champagne vinaigrette. It was fabulous!

We all ordered a different entrée, I can’t say that I remember much about everyone else’s meal as I was too absorbed in my own to think about anything else. I ordered the filet, which was cooked to perfection, with a wild mushroom and shallot ragout and blue cheese crumbles, served with truffled duchess potatoes and French green beans. Other choices include salmon, rabbit, grilled lobster tail, rack of lamb, seafood gumbo, a chicken dish, a bouillabaisse and a vegetarian choice- sweet potato risotto cake.

There is also a menu that caters to the younger guests. Not your typical children’s menu, choices offered include grilled chicken, steak, salmon, croquet monseir (a ham and cheese sandwich of sorts), chicken fingers and mini burgers.

Dress code is resort casual. Reservations are required. Call 278-3000.

For more information on the Bretton Arms click here.

For information on properties available for sale at the resort click here.

Posted by:Michele Penner



June 19, 2009

Fishing in Northern New Hampshire White Mountains with Trout Unlimited

Posted to Community Lifestyle, Joy Moore

Standing in the rain, on the bank of a private, well-cared for pond with Lupine flowers in full bloom, there I was fishing last night. I saw two, over 14 inch trout being caught, a brown and a rainbow. I wanted to take a picture, but its been rainy here for the last two days and it was way too wet for my camera. The trout were caught by our President of the Ammonoosuc Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Boy, can he fish, I never knew the trout could grow to that size. Last night was our last Directors Meeting until September, topped off with our brown bag grill fare and some planning for next year’s Chapter meetings, films, fly tying demonstrations and more. If you are a fisherman, or think you might like to fish here in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, you should consider joining us! We have a ball! Oh, by the way, I did catch something of my own, a frog by the leg, a first for the pond! New members are always welcome and ladies, fly fishing is terrific! While I work a lot at my real estate profession, I find fly fishing relaxing and fun, and quite frankly it can be good exercise, depending on where you are fishing! To see where the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department stocks fish, they have a website which shows areas of stocking.

Posted by:Joy Moore



June 18, 2009

Open House Featuring Cherry Pond Designs, Bailiwick's Fine Restaurant and Pilgrim Furniture June 27 & 28th

Posted to Chrissy Smith, Events & Activities

4 Local Businesses Join Together For An Innovative Open House - fine food, fine furniture and a great home!

With an innovative approach to selling real estate, and hosting open houses, we have joined with a few other local companies to create an all encompassing open house at one of our listings in Littleton on Granview Road.

The home will be staged with furnishings from Cherry Pond Designs and from Pilgrim Furniture in Littleton. Cherry Pond Designs has been crafting beautiful, hand made furniture at their factory in Jefferson, NH since 1988 and selling it all over the country. They offer many different styles of bedroom and dining room sets as well as occasional and home office furniture. Pilgrim Furniture will also be furnishing the main rooms with upholstery pieces, a grandfather clock, and more. Pilgrim’s has a complete furniture showroom on Meadow Street in Littleton where they have been furniture purveyors for over 40 years.

Bailiwick’s Fine Restaurant, located in downtown Littleton will be busy in the kitchen during the open house. Their Executive Chef Lisa Foster will be demonstrating how to make sushi rolls, something everyone can learn to do. As one of Littleton’s newest dining establishments, they have been getting rave reviews ever since they opened two years ago. Owned by experienced restaurant operators Stacey & Steve Northrop, this is one of the area’s “places to be seen!”

Cherry Pond Designs had approached us about wanting to stage one of our homes with their furniture, and one of our sales associates, Diane Johnson, said she had a house that was perfect for this. We really wanted to create an event for everyone to have something to enjoy. If you have an interest in furniture design and making, we will be featuring furnishings from Cherry Pond Designs and Pilgrim Furniture. If you are interested in gourmet cooking and want to see how a sushi roll is prepared we have that, too. Some great ideas you can take home and incorporate in your own home.

The home is located on Granview Road in Littleton, in one of Littleton’s finest neighborhoods, at the top of Slate Ledge Road. The custom built home features a view of the Moore Reservoir, and the back of the home incorporates floor to ceiling windows. I overheard Diane on the phone the other day talking to a reporter, and she said something to the effect of, “This is a spectacular home, with a great location and attractive design elements. I know this open house will bring together so many fantastic elements, between the furnishings, the food and the people, to really showcase this home in all its glory.”

The open house will take place on Saturday and Sunday, June 27th and 28th from 10 am-4 pm both days and we’d love to see you there! For more information, feel free to join our group page on Facebook!

Posted by:Chrissy Smith



June 16, 2009

Partridge Lake – Quiet, Spring Fed and Minutes from Downtown Littleton, NH

Posted to Joy Moore

In years past, families would move to their summer home on Partridge Lake, the men would car pool to town to work, while the family enjoyed the swimming, boating, fishing and just investigating the wonders of the lake. Today not much has changed, some camps have now become year round homes, the loon’s call can be heard echoing, a summer family or two of ducks swim the lake visiting the camps/home with the expectation of a piece of bread being offered. Yes this is a quiet lake community in fact the only one in Littleton.

The lake is a spring fed 99 acres and between 20 to 50 feet deep with a public boat launched mostly used by day fishermen. There are a number of year around residences, but most residences are Summer camps, that have been in the families for many years. To read more about the history of Partridge Lake, written by late historian Wilbur Willey, click here.

Water activities on the lake range from the small kayaks and canoes to waterskiing. Winter finds snow mobiling from your doorstep, cross country skiing or maybe trying your hand at ice fishing. Evening offers sunsets and porch sitting.

We currently have a year round home on spectacular Partridge Lake for sale. Am I partial to the lake, you bet. I have been fortunate to have friends who live on the lake and access it at least once a week for fishing, kayaking and more. It’s a wonderful lake just minutes from downtown Littleton and it is really a splendid neighborhood, within a great small town in America. For more on the home we have for sale on the lake, click here.

Posted by:Joy Moore



June 15, 2009

Our Walk through Downtown Littleton NH and the RiverWalk

Posted to Chrissy Smith, Events & Activities

Its was an overcast Monday (6/15) here in Littleton, NH but April Reinhard and I left our Littleton office and took a 15 minute “heart/health walk” down the Riverwalk path many tourists who come to Littleton take, but one that we never have - and we’ve lived here our whole life! We left our office and went over the Cottage Street bridge, when looking left we saw the Paddleford Covered Bridge which was constructed within the last few years, its absolutely beautiful. We then headed onto our Main Street, which is currently under construction, but traffic was still traveling through and a bus load of tourists were browsing through the shops, and one lady had just had her nails done in one of our local salons. We went through the construction zone, which was no small task and crossed in front of a large piece of earth moving equipment - I dare say we felt like a “little people” child’s toy in front of that machine. Downtown Littleton is a site to be seen though, even under construction - historic buildings we passed included the Masonic Temple, The Thayer’s Inn, the large beautiful post office and courthouse and more. We crossed the Ammonoosuc River again, this time over the Ken Curran Steel suspension footbridge that bounces if you don’t walk in step with each other. The river was lovely, and again, this time we could see the Paddleford bridge to our left. We now took a left off the bridge and entered the “Riverwalk” path, the meanders along the river and ends at the Paddleford Bridge. Its a nicely graveled path, and fun to explore! Back to the office we returned, 15 minutes later, and a little out of breath. It was great to walk the Riverwalk - a piece of Littleton NH that many have tourists have visited, but we locals sometimes seem to busy to enjoy - but we found time today and plan to do it again tomorrow! No wonder people chose to live here! We always knew it, but got to see it through another set of eyes today!

Posted by:Chrissy Smith



June 15, 2009

Joy Moore Named LRB Realtor of the Year

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We are so pleased at Peabody & Smith Realty to announce that our Managing Broker in our Littleton office, Joy Moore has been selected as the REALTOR® of the Year from the Lakes Region Board of REALTORS®.

According to the Lakes Region Board of Realtors, The REALTOR® of the Year award is the highest honor any board of REALTORS® can bestow on one from their membership. There are around 800 members in the Lakes Region Board and they base the award on REALTOR® spirit, local board activity business accomplishments and other activities.

Always exuberant, she really fits her name, Joy called us from the road on her way home from the meeting and gave us the news. When she arrived back into her office 45 minutes later, she described the scene this way, “As they were reading off all the items the “chosen” person had done, I was thinking I knew exactly who it was, certainly not me, I kept eating my food and then when they said, ‘and she’s known for always wearing her sunglasses on top of her head’ I felt the top of my head -there were my sunglasses and that’s when I realized they were awarding it to me!” I think she had a few more words after that, but that’s what we can place here.

Joy is the Past-President of the Lakes Region Board and has served on numerous committees over the years. Since Joy joined us fifteen years ago, her focus has been on selling homes and land in the greater White Mountains of NH and some parts of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.

For those of you who have never had the pleasure of meeting Joy, personally she has four grown children, four grandchildren, and a rambunctious Wheaten Terrier named Toby. She is also an avid fly fisher when she’s not working. Joy works from our office in Littleton at 11 Riverglen Lane.

Posted by:Andrew Smith



June 11, 2009

Welcome to Ledgewood

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Ledgewood is a unique community nestled in the heart of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Drive through the stone pillar entrance and meander up the paved road, and you will understand that this is truly a special place.

Over 1600 acres in the towns of Bethlehem and Carroll, with 24 premier home sites ranging in size from 17 to 100 acres, the community consists of woodlands, mountain tops, meadows, babbling mountain streams, ponds and access to spectacular water frontage on the Ammonoosuc River. But, don’t let me forget the views! There are absolutely stunning mountain views from each of the privately situated home sites. Mount Washington, Lafayette, Cannon, the Twins and Kinsman Ranges are within view of the community - just to name a few.

Protective and conservation covenants are in place to ensure that the community will be enjoyed by the abundant wildlife and homeowners alike for many years. We have seen bear, deer, fox, moose, rabbit and turkey quite regularly on property. Feed the trout, or catch & release from the 2 stocked ponds. Lupine fields are a relatively new addition that are in bloom early to mid June – quite a beautiful array of purples, pink & white.

Ledgewood is close to all the activities one would expect to enjoy in the White Mountains – skiing at either Bretton Woods or Cannon, hiking, biking, fishing – whatever your pleasure, it is surely not far away.

Some very exquisite homes have already been built, but you won’t see most of them from the road, as they have all maximized their privacy and views by building back and up on their home sites!

Pictures just do not do justice to this beautiful haven, to really experience it, you need to walk it!

Only 5 home sites remain! Click here to find out more information.

Posted by:Michele Penner



June 11, 2009

Summer Market Watch from Peabody & Smith Realty - Current Market Snapshot

Posted to

Is it a Triple Play? Consumer Confidence Rising; Real Estate Sales Increase, New Construction numbers rebound.

As of June 1st, all three important indicators are positive. Plus, the low interest rates and the $8000 First time Home Buyers Tax Credit continue to be market makers. So, is the market back? In many senses it is. Take a look at the numbers. According to the numbers reported by the National Association of Realtors, the Northeast saw a 12% increase in sales in April, with the largest increase in the lower-price segments. This increases the annual number of homes sold in the NE from 690,000 to 770,000. New home building starts increased 21% in April over March, a great sign that the excess inventory of new, un-sold homes is getting cleaned up.

Not surprisingly, locally we are seeing a similar increase in activity, and a corresponding reduction in prices. Sales have trended upward in April, along with a dramatic increase in the inventory of homes for sale. This is great news for Buyers, providing a large selection of homes to choose from, but will continue to keep prices from making a great comeback as the forces of supply and demand impact what Buyers are willing to pay.

Locally, the average sale price declined from a high of $231,000 in early 2008, to a current sale price of $130,000. Although this reflects the average price of the homes sold, it is important to consider that the lower priced homes reflect the best values for Buyers, as a large percentage of these sales have been Bank Owned or “Short Sale” properties. We are predicting that the most activity will continue to be in the lower 1/3 of the pricing tier for the next 3- 6 months, and consequently will have a larger than normal impact on the averages. The mid and upper tiers reflect some very good values as Sellers have adjusted their prices, although the reductions here typically do not reflect that larger discounts that distressed or foreclosed properties do.

To download a copy of this article which includes sales graphs, please click here. For more information on your town, or house, please feel free to give us a call, or send us an email, we’d love to help.

Posted by:Andrew Smith



June 04, 2009

Peabody & Smith Opens Plymouth, NH Office

Posted to

Peabody & Smith just opened a new office located in Plymouth, New Hampshire. With one office in the Northeast Kingdom of VT and two offices in the North Country, we determined it was time to open an office south of Franconia Notch.

The office is staffed with five agents, directed by Mary Doherty - Peabody & Smith Commercial Broker.

Click here to read the full story.


Posted by:Andy Smith