Second Home (New Hampshire)

[motionxxusxx]

I appreciate all the feedback. We are in the initial stages of looking for a place. I will definitely try to hit a few mountains throughout the season to get a feel. It's kind of strange that I have boarded at most mountains in Vermont and Maine. For some reason, we have always passed though New Hampshire. I would definitely like the convienence of being on the lake but near the mountain. I would definitely like to hear more about Sunapee, as I have only been there in the summer during some of the festivals, so it I didn't really get a good feel about the mountain. It seems to be similar to Mount Snow, maybe a little smaller. It also seemed that there wasn't much of a town, unless I just overlooked it. I Will also consider the North Conway area, seems like thats where the bigger mountains are located.

 

[AdironRider]

Good point on the lines at Loon. With all those condos come the most crowded slopes I have ever experienced.

 

[Vortex]

Alot of talk about location.

You need to look at Tax rates for each area.

You need to look at condo fees in each region, rental potential if needed,. or how far to a golf coarse is important to some.

I looked at North conway it was just to much work to buy and go there every week.

I vacation there every year though. I'm a fan of the 93 side. From most places it is a shorter drive. I like the southern whites in the summer more than the Winter. Good hiking anywhere in the whites. I do Welch dickey like some do long walks. I'm partial, but there are other 2nd home owners out here. Different goals and financial concerns than a 1st house.

Interesting to see how loons' expansion will effect the region as well.

 

[wa-loaf]

We like the Littleton area. We want to get a vacation house or even move there at some point. You've got Cannon right there and a short drive to Waterville, Loon, and Breton Woods. Just about an hour to Jay and a little more to the other VT areas. Sunday River and Wildcat in the other direction.

 

[Vortex]

Littleton is a good choice as well. Little longer drive, but VT becomes easier.

 

[JasonE]

Not to be blatantly promotional (I have no monetary interest in this whatsoever), but...

My parents are selling their condo in Lincoln, NH. It's literally less than 10 minutes from the base of Loon, and directly across the street from Loon's new South Mountain development (when my wife and I stayed there in August, we could see the trails from the swimming pool). Really nice 2-bedroom unit, being sold fully furnished and completely outfitted. Also, part of a resort that does on-site rentals, so you can recoup some of your investment by renting it when you're not using it.

I wish my folks weren't selling it, but they are looking to build a house in Florida and can't very well own 3 different properties.

I don't know the details, but if you call the Nordic Inn in Lincoln, NH, ask to talk with Tersha (she's the real estate broker) and tell her you've heard that unit 217 is for sale, I'm sure she'd be happy to fill you in.

By the way - if you go to www.nordic-inn.com, the picture at the top of their web page (the header behind where they say Nordic Inn) is a picture of my parent's master bedroom (remember, furniture comes with the unit), and further down the page the picture of the kitchen is also from my parent's unit (it's one of the nicest units in the building so they used several pictures on the web site).

Anyway... hope this helps.

Jason

 

[stomachdoc]

Can't say enough good things about having a place at Waterville Valley; we've owned for about 4 years. The design of the town is superb, and it's really a community, in addition to a resort. It's as much fun in the summer as in the winter (golf, hiking, tennis right in WV) and we've been thrilled to be there. We are also West of Boston (Wayland) and can make it door to door in just slightly over two hours (once did 1:59 in my Audi TT which my wife made me sell). The mountain is extremely family oriented if you have kids. Everything is self contained; our 11 year old rides the shuttle from the mountain to our condo by herself with no concerns. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

 

[Vortex]

Stomachdoc is a great resource I have used myself.

 

[WJenness]

Can't say enough good things about having a place at Waterville Valley; we've owned for about 4 years. The design of the town is superb, and it's really a community, in addition to a resort. It's as much fun in the summer as in the winter (golf, hiking, tennis right in WV) and we've been thrilled to be there. We are also West of Boston (Wayland) and can make it door to door in just slightly over two hours (once did 1:59 in my Audi TT which my wife made me sell). The mountain is extremely family oriented if you have kids. Everything is self contained; our 11 year old rides the shuttle from the mountain to our condo by herself with no concerns. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

I'm sorry to hear she made you sell the car...

I <3 my Audi

-w

 

[bobbutts]

I appreciate all the feedback. We are in the initial stages of looking for a place. I will definitely try to hit a few mountains throughout the season to get a feel. It's kind of strange that I have boarded at most mountains in Vermont and Maine. For some reason, we have always passed though New Hampshire. I would definitely like the convienence of being on the lake but near the mountain. I would definitely like to hear more about Sunapee, as I have only been there in the summer during some of the festivals, so it I didn't really get a good feel about the mountain. It seems to be similar to Mount Snow, maybe a little smaller. It also seemed that there wasn't much of a town, unless I just overlooked it. I Will also consider the North Conway area, seems like thats where the bigger mountains are located.

Sunapee is alot smaller than Mt. Snow and not very steep. It has personality for it's size and steepness, but unless things change in town it's a small ski area.

 

[Geoff]

Some things to consider about New Hampshire skiing:
* Poor natural snow. 50% of what Central and Northern Vermont get.
* The mountains are not very big
* Most mountains were cut before snowmaking and with limited natural snow, tend to be very intermediate
* The I-93 areas get crushed with metro-Boston day trippers

If I had to do it all over again, I'd take a hard look at the Mad River Valley in Vermont. Beware of the Vermont Act 68 property tax law where you're paying 2+% property taxes. It's a little painful getting up and over from I-89. The Roxbury Gap road is a problem midwinter and in mud month. The Bethel Mountain Road can be a problem when it's snowing if you don't have a good snow car with good snow tires.

I'd also take a hard look in Maine. Sunday River is bigger than Loon and it doesn't get bombed with the day trip people as much. It suffers from the same limited snowfall issue. Sugarloaf is likely farther than most people from west of Boston would want to drive.

From west of Boston, you also are not all that far from Southern Vermont. Going Rt 2, Rt 140, Rt 12/Keene, I-91, Rt 103, Okemo isn't all that big a drive and you don't face the Boston Friday rush hour traffic. Stratton is similar distance. You already know about Mt Snow. Southern Vermont is much prettier than the New Hampshire ski towns. You have the New York crowds to deal with rather than the Boston crowds and that's a consideration.

 

[frozencorn]

We own a place in Eidelweiss in Madison, a 10 min drive to downtown North Conway, 30 mins to Attitash/Wildcat. It's ideal in that it's a quiet development with private ponds and whatnot, with everything else just a quick drive away. Perfect environment. And it's an easy 2 1/2 hour drive (95 > 16N) from Boston.

 

[stomachdoc]

We did seasonal rentals for a couple of years before we bought a place; that way we were able to make sure that it was where we wanted to be. However, a lot of what you do depends on your time frame; the market is pretty soft for second homes right now and there is plenty of inventory, and interest rates are pretty good, so it's a decent time to buy.

 

[riverc0il]

Some things to consider about New Hampshire skiing:
* Poor natural snow. 50% of what Central and Northern Vermont get.
* The mountains are not very big
* Most mountains were cut before snowmaking and with limited natural snow, tend to be very intermediate
* The I-93 areas get crushed with metro-Boston day trippers

This is all non-sense. 50% of central Vermont? That is an exaggeration. 50% less than Jay, Stowe, Smuggs, or Bolton, maybe. But many NH mountains push almost 200". Cannon, Waterville, Loon, and Wildcat are all 2k vert mountains without run out. Many of the afore mentioned mountains have higher overall steepness than many Vermont mountains such as Jay Peak so "very intermediate" is kind of harsh. And as a former 93 day tripper, I never experienced traffic on 93 unless I left early on a Sunday and only then in Manchester at the two lane pull down. If you ski open to close, there is never any traffic to contend with.

 

[eatskisleep]

R16 is aweful. Down here Cape Cod people are always ranting about going up to North Conway to ski. North Conway is more of a destination area than a ski town. Sure it is nice area, but to ski I don't know why people drive 4 hours from here (150 miles) to go there when I can drive 4 hours to Stowe/MRV, Jay is about 5 and all those are at least 250-275 miles, jay is 300. Personally I need to be on a highway, R16 on a Friday night or Sunday afternoon can be Excrutiating. Back to the original question, when it comes to the driving factor from Boston, stay closer to the major highways, 93 and 89.

Just take 93, then hop on the Kanc or take the Meridith/Lake Winnipesaukee exit and take back roads form there.

 

[bobbutts]

I never experienced traffic on 93 unless I left early on a Sunday and only then in Manchester at the two lane pull down. If you ski open to close, there is never any traffic to contend with.

Friday night is the other time you'll see traffic on 93

 

[bigbog]

.......

Some of the hybrids coming along down the line can give a pretty fair account on the open roads stomachdoc...
Don't lose hope;-) Some country/mtns/woods drives in the less paved world can be just as enjoyable.... $.01

 

[snoseek]

Also consider the fact that rt. 16 kind of sucks. no wait it really sucks, and you also have to pay crazy tolls before Rochester ( 3 dollars each way now). 125 used to be a good bypass for metro west flatlanders but that road has reached all time new levels of suckiness. 93 north to an easterly route may work better but we all know how hard it is to get east-west north of concord. 93 corrider would sure be convenient for you.

 

[hrstrat57]

East Madison area....

Cheap season pass at King Pine for good night skiing and quick access to ME and ea NH skiing....and the shopping remains nearby.

We were buying there until a lost job a few years back....might be back on the radar screen.

rt 16 on Friday nights is a nightmare but...

there are many ways around rt 16

 

[stomachdoc]

Some of the hybrids coming along down the line can give a pretty fair account on the open roads stomachdoc...
Don't lose hope;-) Some country/mtns/woods drives in the less paved world can be just as enjoyable.... $.01

Well, right now I'm driving a BMW 5 series--------

------Wagon.

It's a nice car, but if one more person calls me a soccer Mom (yes, I'm a guy), then I'm gonna scream.