Hearthside Realty

09/04/2026

New Hampshire’s summer housing market was hot. The median sales price of a single-family home reached $575,000 from June through August, up 3.6% from the summer of 2025. And despite rising prices, buyers remained active, with closed sales increasing by more than 8%.

Some communities saw even sharper price gains. Among municipalities with at least 50 sales, Laconia led the way with an increase of more than 16%, followed by Dover and Goffstown at 14%.

But the story wasn’t the same everywhere. Hudson, Keene and Portsmouth all recorded lower median prices than last summer. Even with a 2.4% decline, however, Portsmouth’s median sales price remained $912,500.

It’s a good reminder that real estate is local. Market conditions can vary significantly from one community to the next—and from season to season. Whether you’re buying or selling, a local REALTOR® can help you understand what’s happening in your market.

08/11/2026

In the summer of 2019, there were 4,935 single-family homes for sale across New Hampshire. During the same period in 2026? Just 2,781.

That’s a 44% decline in available homes. This persistent shortage of inventory has been a significant factor in pushing New Hampshire’s median sales price to $580,000.

And some counties have seen even steeper declines since 2019: Sullivan County down 52% while Cheshire and Hillsborough Counties are down 50%

Even Coös County, which experienced the smallest decline, is down 32%, followed by Carroll and Belknap counties.

More homes may be coming onto the market, up 15% from 2025, but New Hampshire remains a long way from the inventory levels we had before the pandemic.

Housing markets and inventory can vary town-by-town, neighborhood-by-neighborood so consult a local REALTOR before buying or selling

07/03/2026

As of July 1, 2026, several new laws passed by the Legislature are now in effect:

Lease Expirations (HB 60)
Landlords may now terminate a tenancy at the end of a lease term of 12 months or longer, provided they give tenants at least 60 days' written notice that the lease will not be renewed.

Housing in Commercial Zones (HB 631)
Municipalities must allow multifamily housing in commercial zones where adequate infrastructure exists. Additional legislation passed in 2026 further strengthens these housing rights and is awaiting the Governor's signature.

Building on Class VI Roads (SB 281)
Property owners may build homes on certain Class VI roads without planning board approval if they record a liability waiver and demonstrate the property is insurable.

07/01/2026

Thinking of selling? Let us help you with a marketing / staging plan 🏡

06/30/2026

06/19/2026

Americans now estimate they need $1.46 million to retire comfortably, according to Northwestern Mutual's 2026 Planning & Progress Study, yet many are still counting on $1 million as their target.

Using the 4% withdrawal rule, a $1 million nest egg generates about $40,000 per year. Add the average Social Security benefit of $2,071 per month and total income comes to roughly $5,400 a month. But housing costs can quickly erode that budget. A typical mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance, and maintenance expenses could easily consume 50% of that monthly income, leaving just $2,700 for health care, groceries, utilities, and everything else. Where you retire matters too. States like Florida, Texas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania do not tax retirement income from 401(k)s, IRAs, or pensions, which can meaningfully stretch savings further.

06/13/2026

Feels like summer...

https://www.hearthsiderealty.com/listing/5094356/470-winnacunnet-road-hampton-nh-03862/

06/12/2026

A new analysis from the National Association of Realtors® finds that 50% of homeowners in New Hampshire have more home equity than the IRS currently allows to be excluded from capital gains tax. And 9.3% of married couples filing jointly owners exceed even the $500,000 threshold.

That’s because the federal capital gains exclusion—$250,000 for individuals, $500,000 for joint filers—hasn’t changed since 1997. But in the decades since, home values have skyrocketed, growing more than 260% nationwide. Now, middle-class homeowners in states like New Hampshire are hitting limits originally designed for luxury markets.

That’s why NHAR will be discussing the More Homes on the Market Act with our federal congressional delegation.The proposed law would double the capital gains exclusion and index it to inflation—something experts say should have happened decades ago.

06/11/2026

Serious summer vibes with this new WATERFRONT listing...

https://www.hearthsiderealty.com/listing/5093896/154-crescent-lake-road-acworth-nh-03601/