Alpine Lakes Real Estate and Allied Home Mortgage both with offices at Linwood Plaza in Lincoln, NH, have teamed up to collect non-perishable food and/or cash for the State of New Hampshire food bank. There will be collection boxes available in our lobbies for the up coming holiday season. Canned or dry food donations would be appreciated - a one dollar gift will purchase four meals.

If our hours of operation don’t coincide with your schedule please call us and we’ll be happy to make arrangements to open early, stay late or pick up your donation for you.

Our mission is to fill stomachs and hearts this holiday season so give if you can.

Alpine Lakes Real Estate
Linwood Plaza
78 Main Street
Lincoln, NH
603-745-3601

To stand out in an increasingly competitive real estate market and serve their community, one New Hampshire real estate agency has made it its mission to provide more than just a list of available properties around Loon Mountain, Waterville Valley, and the stunning White Mountain region.

CAMPTON, NH, and LINCOLN, NH – Websites are often the equivalent of online brochures. You can look at them once, and you don’t need to visit them again.

But Alpine Lakes Real Estate, the independent and locally-owned White Mountains real estate agency, has done much more than re-launch their website in 2007. They also added a blog, and since April of this year, agents and support staff have posted new information for home sellers and buyers in the Loon Mountain and Waterville Valley regions of New Hampshire on an almost daily basis.

“Every real estate agency – including ours – updates the listings on their website,” said Steve Loynd, Managing Broker at the Lincoln, NH office of Alpine Lakes. “We’ve gone far beyond that, and we’re hoping people from the community will join the conversation at www.AlpineLakes.com/blog.”

For anyone not familiar with blogs, they allow people and businesses to add new information to their websites with a click of a mouse, and allow people anywhere in the world to read and comment on the information being shared. Those comments appear on the blog for visitors to read, and to inspire even more feedback.

Though blogs are often used for personal or cause-related purposes, an increasing number of businesses now use blogs to educate readers about the business’ area of expertise. In the case of Alpine Lakes, the range of knowledge and expertise being added to the blog is substantial. Recent posts have addressed topics such as pest control, the choice of fixing up or tearing down a home, log homes, and land use change taxes.

“We’re committed to sharing as much information as possible about buying and selling real estate in Lincoln, Campton, and the surrounding communities,” said William Cargill, founder of Alpine Lakes Real Estate. “Every single Alpine Lakes agent adds content to the blog, so people who read it get the benefit of the collective wisdom of our agency.”

To their knowledge, Alpine Lakes is the only local real estate agency to be sharing free real estate information though a blog, and Cargill sees this as important – not just as a competitive advantage, but as the natural extension of their business philosophy.

“We’re deeply invested in the White Mountains and the people who live, work, and play here,” Cargill said. “We’ve been building long-term relationships in this area for more than 20 years, working to make the real estate process fun, safe, and easy. This blog allows us to expand those relationships and create new ways to help home buyers and sellers who appreciate what this region has to offer.”

As a nation, we tend to be people who jump right into things, figuring we can learn as we go. But when it comes to home-buying, taking the time to step back and prepare before shopping for a home can be one of the best decisions you can make.

“This is just one of the ways we try to help our clients,” said Joe Macord, Managing Broker at the Campton, NH office of Alpine Lakes Real Estate. “If we can help them take a few steps on their own before they start shopping for homes, it makes the process smoother for everyone – buyers, sellers, their agents, and the dozens of other people behind the scenes who help make the transaction happen.”

Macord notes there are thousands of resources online to help buyers, but one of the best ones comes from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). What follows is HUD’s basic nine-step process for home buyers, along with some tips and further explanations.

Figure out how much you can afford. Many real estate websites offer financial calculators to help you determine what your loan payments look like with different down payments, interest rates, and terms. It’s a great way to get an initial estimate from which to proceed.

Know your rights. Because of laws like the Fair Housing Act (FHA), Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), some buyers simply assume everyone involved in the real estate transaction will abide by these laws. Whether by accident or intention, that’s not always the case. As a buyer, it’s your responsibility to be familiar with the laws, so you’ll know if an issue arises.

Shop for a loan. A lot of buyers wait to do this until after they start shopping for a home, and that can hold up the process for both buyers and sellers – and delays don’t make anyone happy. Get offers from different lenders, and ask about pre-approval offers, too.

Learn about home-buying programs. Check with HUD.gov as well as your own state government’s website to see whether you may qualify for any government home-buying assistance programs.

Shop for a home. Finally, at step five, you get into the nitty gritty. Now that you know your price range and you’re ready to get a loan in place, you can start looking at towns, tax rates, schools, and more. HUD offers a very thorough checklist for download on their website.

This is also where you’d enlist the services of a buyer’s broker as needed to represent you in the real estate transaction. Don’t forget, the buyer’s broker is paid out of the selling agent’s commission, so it costs you nothing to bring a buyer’s broker into the picture.

Make an offer. The listed price isn’t necessarily written in stone. Talk to your broker about your negotiating options. Then, when you agree on a price, read through the initial purchase and sale agreement, and discuss any changes you’d like to make with your agent (or a real estate attorney) before you sign.

Get a home inspection. Your inspector should be specifically experienced in residential inspections, allow you to accompany him/her throughout the inspection, and provide a written report within 48 hours. Also of value: membership in a professional organization, investment in continuing education, and a series of positive testimonials/referrals.

Shop for homeowners insurance. You need to have this in place and ready to go before you sign the papers, and be able to provide the proof of it. Use the Internet to help you with everything from finding multiple providers for quotes, to getting tips on buying and keeping your insurance costs down.

Sign papers. Generally speaking, the process takes a couple of hours, but you don’t want to rush it. So don’t put anything else on your calendar for the day you’ll be taking legal possession of your new home.

And don’t hesitate to ask questions! Some people think because they’ve gone through so much to get to the signing table, they don’t want to do anything that might slow down or jeopardize the transaction at the last minute. But if you’re not comfortable with something, or you don’t understand something, handle it right then and there.

In fact, that’s possibly the best advice for any home buyer – never be afraid to ask questions. No matter what it’s about, or whether you think you’ll look silly or ignorant because of it, just ask. Buying a home may be expensive, but as the old saying goes, the most expensive thing in life is regret.

As of May 1st, 2007, Alpine Lakes Real Estate, which specializes in Waterville Valley and Loon Mountain property, is donating $50 to charities in their area for every property bought or sold through their agency.

Clients of Alpine Lakes Real Estate get to choose which of seven local charities will receive the $50.00 contribution. Those groups include Adolescent Drug & Alcohol Prevention Tools (ADAPT), Grafton County Senior Citizens Council, Campton Historical Society, Lions Club, Listen Community Services, North Country Center for the Arts, and Whole Village.

“I can’t take credit for the idea,” said Bobi Bigelow, Marketing Administrator for Alpine Lakes. “I’d heard about the concept on a real-estate-related TV show, and I thought that would be perfect for us to do.”

In March, Bigelow compiled the list of non-profits to involve in the new program, and created the additional documentation to include with their closing documents. The program started May 1st, and the first donation went to Grafton County Senior Citizens Council.

And in the past, buyers and sellers working with Alpine Lakes have received “Thank You” packages after their closing. Now, those packages also include a letter letting the client know the $50 donation was made by Alpine on their behalf.

“We’ve been deeply involved with the Grafton County community for decades, and we all contribute in our own individual ways,” said Joe Macord, Managing Broker of Alpine Lakes’ Campton Office. “But when Bobi came to us with this idea, we were all very excited by it.

“The donations come out of our expenses, so there’s no increase in closing costs to our clients. They’ve been very receptive to this idea so far, and we hope to raise thousands of dollars for these local charities in 2007.”

About Alpine Lakes Real Estate
Alpine Lakes Real Estate has been building long-term relationships in the White Mountains for more than 20 years. Their extensive real estate expertise is enhanced by their vast knowledge of the entire building process, regional history, and area heritage. With offices in Lincoln serving the Loon Mountain area and in Campton serving the Waterville Valley Region of NH, Alpine Lakes Real Estate offers friendly and experienced guidance, assistance with IRS 1031 “like-kind” exchanges, and even the Design-Build services of their in-house architect. For more information about Alpine Lakes Real Estate and the stunning White Mountains region they call home, go to www.AlpineLakes.com.

When some people decide to buy property outside the state in which they currently live, they may be doing it with a lot of knowledge already. They could have the resources of friends and family already living in that state, or the experience of having visited and spent significant amounts of time in the state.

For others, however, the choice to buy real estate – whether it’s a commercial property, a single home, a condo, or even just bare land – can seem daunting without some knowledge of the new state.

Of course, there’s some research you can do for yourself. You’ll have to narrow it down to the state (and maybe even a county or region) on your own. But when you get down to choosing a city or town, the best source of information is going to be a well-qualified real estate buyer’s agent or broker.

Here are five reasons why most people buy out-of-state, and how a real estate agent or broker can assist with all of these scenarios.

1. Retirement. Retiring used to be simple. You bought a place wherever you liked the weather, and you stayed there. Now, though, people live longer, retire earlier, and have active and diverse retirement lifestyles. An agent or broker based in the region you’re considering can help you pinpoint the best spot for the lifestyle you want to have.

2. Rental income. If you buy property but don’t plan to use it all the time, you might think about renting it out – either by advertising locally, or using a website like Cyberrentals.com. Either way, a local agent or broker can give you the scoop on everything from advertising options to cleaning services to management companies and landscaping pros in the area.

3. Vacation destination. Do you like skiing? Surfing? Boating? Hiking? Cultural attractions? Tourist attractions? Some or all of the above? The great thing about talking to an agent or broker in advance is that he or she can also tell you what’s available in the area, with the confidence and insider knowledge of a local resident.

4. Family relocation. The reasons to relocate are many: change in job, change in lifestyle, moving closer to (or farther away from) family, choosing a different environment for raising your kids, lower cost of living, even lower taxes. You’ll be able to do a lot of research about the state you want to go to, but when it gets down to picking cities or towns, finding a local agent or broker who knows the lay of the land is vital to being satisfied with the ultimate decision you make.

5. Real estate investing. As evidenced by TV shows like “Flip This House,” buying homes to fix up and re-sell ASAP is a growing trend. And with foreclosures at a 30-year high, more and more homes can be found for this purpose. With the help of an agent or broker in-state, you can easily find the lenders offering houses for sale, reliable people to do the upgrades, and even market the property for sale.

Ideally, you’d want to spend as much time in the state in which you want to buy – exploring, asking questions, and seeing for yourself what the experience will be like, and how it fits into your specific situations and desires. But most folks don’t have the time or resources to do that.

And in those cases, the local real estate buyer’s agent or broker can be one of your first and best friends in that new state.

On May 21st, 2007, Alpine Lakes Real Estate published a new special report, “1031 Tax-Free Property Sales: Fact, Fiction, and Frequently Asked Questions,” which they’re offering for free on their website at www.AlpineLakes.com/1031.

“The property many people own here in the White Mountains is investment property. It’s not their primary home, or they’re getting rental income on it, or both,” notes Bill Cargill, founder of Alpine Lakes Real Estate. “When they decide to sell their property, they could take advantage of the 1031 exchange and save thousands in taxes.”

The number “1031” refers to the section in the IRS tax code which addresses the sale of investment property. Essentially, if the proceeds of a sale of investment property are used to purchase another investment property – which is the reason why the transaction is also referred to as a “like-kind” exchange – the sale is exempt from capital gains taxes indefinitely.

The 1031 transaction requires the involvement of a “Qualified Intermediary” (QI) who serves a purpose similar to escrow. Proceeds from the investment property sale are held by the QI until a new investment property is found, and the funds are released to purchase the new property.

In writing the special report, the Alpine Lakes team set out to share their experience with 1031 exchanges, which require some preparation in advance of the initial sale. Grafton County, NH property owners will also receive postcards letting them know about the 1031 Special Report.

“It can be complicated for property owners to handle on their own,” said Steve Loynd, Managing Broker at the Lincoln office of Alpine Lakes. “Their real estate agent can’t act as a QI for them, either. But we’ve worked on dozens of 1031 sales and we can recommend QIs that our clients have been very happy with.

The report was inspired by growing interest in creative savings and investment opportunities in vacation destinations. “To save thousands in capital gains taxes, it’s such a smart thing to do,” Loynd added, “and we want investment property owners, especially in the Waterville Valley and around Loon Mountain, to take advantage of the benefits of this tax law before they list their property and lose the chance to do it.”

About Alpine Lakes Real Estate
Alpine Lakes Real Estate has been building long-term relationships in the White Mountains for more than 20 years. Their extensive real estate expertise is enhanced by their vast knowledge of the entire building process, regional history, and area heritage. With offices in Lincoln serving the Loon Mountain area and in Campton serving the Waterville Valley Region of NH, Alpine Lakes Real Estate offers friendly and experienced guidance, assistance with IRS 1031 “like-kind” exchanges, and even the Design-Build services of their in-house architect. For more information about Alpine Lakes Real Estate and the stunning White Mountains region they call home, go to www.AlpineLakes.com.

You’ve probably heard someone say, “It’s a buyer’s market” or “It’s a seller’s market” when it comes to real estate. And while it’s true that conditions in the real estate market can favor one side or the other, in a majority of transactions, the seller has the upper hand.

Why? Because the real estate agent showing the home to prospective buyers is working on behalf of the seller, not the buyer. And that’s the way it should be! As a property seller, you’d want the real estate agent working to get you – and not the buyer – the best offer possible.

But as a property buyer, this obviously doesn’t work in your favor. So it may be in your best interest to hire a buyer’s broker to act on your behalf, and here are four good reasons why:

#1 - They help you find a home that’s more in line with your desires. Oftentimes, a seller’s agent will only show you what they have to sell in their own portfolio. And if you stick with that agent, you’ll be faced with making concessions you might not have had to make, if you had a buyer’s broker showing you homes from a number of different selling agents.

#2 – They’ll act as your experts in evaluating homes for potential issues. Not everything that could affect a home sale or value gets listed in the purchase and sale agreement. For example, that empty lot next door the selling agent claims is unbuildable? A buyer’s agent will tell you if that’s right, or if the selling agent’s just telling you what you want to hear.

#3 – They’ll negotiate a better deal for you than you could by yourself. Most people aren’t experts at the art of negotiation. And it’s almost certain the selling agent will be a better negotiator than you are. With a buyer’s broker in your corner, you’ll have an experienced negotiator working for you – one who’s also well-versed in the intricacies of the deal you’re about to make.

#4 – They’re paid out of the selling agent’s commission. Except for properties that are “For Sale by Owner,” your buyer’s broker gets half of the selling agent’s commission as payment for his or her services. Some buyer’s brokers may ask for a downpayment on their services, which gets credited toward your eventual closing costs, but otherwise, there’s no additional cost for you to have a buyer’s broker on your side.

So if you’re in the market for real estate right now, or even planning on it soon, start asking around for recommendations. With a dedicated buyer’s broker helping you, you’ll not only have a better chance of finding the right property for you, but you’ll also have a better chance at owning it for less money.

On April 30th, 2007, Alpine Lakes Real Estate officially announced the launch of its new website, www.AlpineLakes.com, featuring expanded benefits for people who prize the White Mountain lifestyle. The new real estate site also offers valuable information every week, to visitors and residents alike, about buying and selling property in this unique area of the state.

“Every real estate company’s got a website, and they’ve all got the same cookie-cutter stuff on them,” notes Bill Cargill, the founder of Alpine Lakes Real Estate. “When we decided to re-do our website, we wanted it to reflect the spirit of our business. It’s generous, informative, and it showcases the White Mountains as an unbeatable place to own property.”

To that end, the new Alpine Lakes website includes an expanded “Resources” section, providing links to area statistics, useful information, activities, home building services, and financing options.

Additionally, all of the Alpine Lakes real estate agents are contributing to a joint blog - a first for the White Mountain real estate market. On the blog, they’ll be sharing the wisdom of their five agents, who average 20 years of experience buying and selling real estate in the area. The blog is a conversational online source for insider advice, and friendly answers to the questions people ask them most often about land and property transactions.

The goal of the entire Alpine Lakes team was to have a dynamic website that stressed their ties to the community, their love of the White Mountains area, and their commitment to sharing the dream of living in this stunning region with passionate people like themselves.

“We kept those ideals front and center throughout our design process,” said Kevin Skarritt of Acorn Creative, the brand identity and web development firm responsible for Alpine Lakes’ makeover. “And because blogging is such a powerful tool for service-based businesses like real estate, we’re truly excited that the Alpine agents decided to blog about their industry and share their deep knowledge with their audience.”

The Alpine Lakes team is encouraging site visitors, White Mountains enthusiasts, and local residents to comment on the blog or send a message through their site’s “Contact” form. It’s their goal to incorporate feedback and make the site a truly valuable destination for insight and information on buying real estate in the White Mountain region.

About Alpine Lakes Real Estate
Alpine Lakes Real Estate has been building long-term relationships in the White Mountains region for more than 20 years. Their extensive real estate expertise is enhanced by their vast knowledge of the entire building process, regional history, and area heritage. With offices in Lincoln and Campton, NH, Alpine Lakes Real Estate offers friendly and experienced guidance, assistance with IRS 1031 “like-kind” exchanges, and even the Design-Build services of their in-house architect. For more information about Alpine Lakes Real Estate and the stunning White Mountains region they call home, go to www.AlpineLakes.com.

With the 1031 Exchange.

If someone told you about a perfectly legal way to sell your investment property without paying a single dime in taxes on the proceeds, would you think it’s too good to be true?

It’s not. The 1031 Exchange is not only the real deal, it’s being used more and more by people selling their investment property in the White Mountains region. One local real estate agency is stepping up their efforts to educate property sellers (and buyers) about the 1031 Exchange, so named after the IRS tax code section where it appears.

“It’s also referred to as the ‘Starker’ or ‘like-kind’ exchange,” says Stephen Loynd, Managing Broker at Alpine Lakes Real Estate’s Lincoln office. “Put simply, if you sell property, you can defer taxes indefinitely if you use the proceeds to buy a similar property of equal or greater value.”

Like most things involving the IRS, Loynd suggests being prepared in advance is critical to making the transaction work out right. The IRS has specific time limitations that must be followed, so it’s best to plan for the 1031 Exchange before putting a property on the market.

“You need a company to serve as what the IRS calls ‘a qualified intermediary’ (QI) to take advantage of the 1031,” says Loynd. “We’ve worked with a number of QIs on behalf of our clients, and it’s a fairly simple process. It works a bit like escrow - the seller never receives the actual cash from the property sale. Instead, the QI holds the proceeds of your sale.

“After the sale, you have 45 days to find a property to buy. Then you have 180 days to close on the property. It really is that simple,” explains Loynd. “But the IRS is very strict about the 45-day and 180-day deadlines, so we always recommend that sellers talk to their tax advisors before they start the process.”

Because of the increased interest they’ve seen in 1031 Exchange real estate transactions, Loynd and the team at Alpine Lakes Real Estate is developing a free special report based on the most frequently asked questions coming from their clients.

Available in June 2007, this free report can be pre-ordered through the contact form on their website, www.AlpineLakes.com/1031.

Loynd hopes the report will help educate interested sellers and buyers about the 1031 Exchange. “It’s a great opportunity to defer taxes indefinitely on qualified real estate transactions, and we want to make sure our clients, friends, and neighbors in the White Mountains know it’s available to them.”

About Alpine Lakes Real Estate
Alpine Lakes Real Estate has been building long-term relationships in the White Mountains region for more than 20 years. Their extensive real estate expertise is enhanced by their vast knowledge of the entire building process, regional history, and area heritage. With offices in Lincoln and Campton, NH, Alpine Lakes Real Estate offers friendly and experienced guidance, assistance with IRS 1031 “like-kind” exchanges, and even the Design-Build services of their in-house architect. For more information about Alpine Lakes Real Estate and the stunning White Mountains region they call home, go to www.AlpineLakes.com.