AVERY REALTY GROUP COMPLETE GUIDE TO SEACOAST NH AND SOUTHERN MAINE Re-location made easy. LIVETHESEACOASTHOMES.COM ABOUT ME REALTOR™, Listing & Re-Location Specialist Hi, I'm Cam Avery! I'm a Seacoast Resident and Local Real Estate agent with the Avery Realty Group, and Keller Williams Coastal Realty. I moved out to the Seacoast area over 13 years ago and have lived in both ME and NH with my wife and two kids, and honestly couldn't imagine living anywhere else. From the beaches, and local community, to the incredible distance to both Boston and Portsmouth, there is no where else I'd rather call home. If you are thinking about moving to the area, first of all welcome! We made this guide just for you! In it you will find information about the area, local towns, attractions and more. We hope that you find this useful as you carefully consider your next step in life, and wish you nothing but this best! Live the Seacoast LIVETHESEACOASTHOMES.COM CONTENTS 03 Introduction-it's a way of life. 05 The first decision- Maine or New Hampshire? 08 Let's Talk Towns 15 Conclusion- One Step Closer... 16 Extras- Re-location checklist LIVETHESEACOASTHOMES.COM WELCOME HOME! "IT'S A WAY OF LIFE"-MY STORY This probably sounds more cliche' than it should, but to me living here on the Seacoast is more than just a great location, it's a way of life. I grew up in Londonderry NH, only about an hour a way from Portsmouth, and while it was a great town, when I moved to the Seacoast I felt like I was living in a totally different part of the world. The ocean was right next to me, the restaurant scene was explosive, and the local community was so welcoming that I immediately fell in love with the area and I knew this would be the place I would call home. LIVETHESEACOASTHOMES.COM I began my career actually not in residential real estate, but in construction. I worked for a company that specialized in renovating classic New England architecture, and so I learned a lot about the area working in so many different towns, like York, Kittery, Portsmouth, Dover, and all of the surrounding areas. During this time I met my wife, we got married and had two kids, and I decided that my passion for real estate and helping others could combine into a career in as a local Real Estate agent. Now looking back after five years, and helping hundreds of people move to the area, I can tell you with confidence, if you are thinking about moving here, raising a family here, or even buying a vacation home in the area, this is a truly special place to live. I wanted to begin this guide by telling you why I love living here, but now the first decision you have to make when moving to the area, should I choose Maine or New Hampshire? LIVETHESEACOASTHOMES.COM THE FIRST DECISION MAINE OR NEW HAMPSHIRE? Given that the Seacoast area is comprised of towns that border both Maine and New Hampshire, the first thing that you need to decide is should you choose to live in Maine or New Hampshire? Unlike other parts of the State, the differences in most scenarios are not major because the location is so close, but depending on your unique situation when it comes to taxes, employment, and personal preferences, it may be a huge part of your decision process. As mentioned earlier, I grew up in NH and have lived in Dover, Somersworth and Londonderry. While currently I am a Maine resident, I've had the opportunity to live in both states. Personally, I favor Maine, but both have their unique pros and cons. LIVETHESEACOASTHOMES.COM The Differences Let's talk first about the main differences. The KEY difference is that while New Hampshire prides itself on not having any income tax, ME has an income and sales tax. This is definitely the most important thing for you to know if you are planning on moving to the Seacoast. We encourage that you speak to your financial advisor about the potential tax implications of living in either Maine or New Hampshire. Also, in regards to taxes, Maine in general, has lower property taxes than New Hampshire, so depending on your income bracket, it could be a total wash either way, but it's definitely worth investigating prior to making a move. A Unique Advantage The best part about living in Southern Maine, is that we get to benefit from no sales tax in NH, where we do most of our shopping, and also benefit from the lower property taxes in Maine. The location difference between Kittery and Portsmouth is minimal, with each giving you roughly the same travel distance to major amenities, so when planning to live on the Seacoast, the biggest question involving Maine or New Hampshire definitely is that of the tax situation. Another thing to consider between Maine and New Hampshire, is do you prefer a more rural area or are you looking to be in more of a city space. While both States provide both, the Seacoast towns in Southern Maine like Kittery, Eliot and South Berwick are definitely going to be more rural than Portsmouth and Dover. If you prefer to be in a city with a lot of night life then you will prefer being in New Hampshire, but if you are looking for more of a rural small town-vibe, Maine will be your ticket. In Conclusion It's important to note however, that all these towns are so close to each other, that by living here you will get to benefit from both aspects, it's just a matter of where you would rather call home. Once you've decided on Maine or New Hampshire, it's now time to narrow in on the towns in particular and decide where you want to end up. LIVETHESEACOASTHOMES.COM NARROWING DOWN LET'S TALK TOWNS The "Seacoast" area of NH and Southern Maine is made up of a number of local towns including small, and large cities, offering a wide variety of both rural and urban settings. In this guide we are going to look at three of the most popular Seacoast towns from each State, for New Hampshire: Portsmouth, Dover, and Rye. For Maine: Kittery, York, and Eliot. For each town we will include the following: population, housing costs, crime rate, school district, and what we love about the town, and also what we don't like. If there is a town that is not in this guide you have questions about, reach out to us directly! LIVETHESEACOASTHOMES.COM PORTSMOUTH NEW HAMPSHIRE IMPORTANT STATISTICS 22,277 POPULATION As of 2021, Portsmouth had a population of just over 22 thousand. HOUSING COSTS Median Home Price: $680,000 CRIME RATE LOW/MEDIUM The crime rate in Portsmouth is 23.52 per 1,000 residents. This is relatively low compared to most cities in the US. EDUCATION EXCELLENT This district's average testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public schools in New Hampshire. Phone Pros Location Historic Downtown Amazing Restaurants Great Parks Arts and Culture Outdoor Activity Cons High Cost of Living High Property Taxes Traffic in Tourist Season Parking Not a Major City "Portsmouth NH is truly one of the best towns to live in on the Seacoast if you are looking for a great downtown, art scene, and stunning location, you will love living in Portsmouth." DOVER NEW HAMPSHIRE IMPORTANT STATISTICS 33,171 POPULATION As of 2021, Portsmouth had a population of just over 33 thousand. HOUSING COSTS Median Home Price: $450,000 CRIME RATE LOW/MEDIUM The crime rate in Portsmouth is 27.91 per 1,000 residents. This is relatively low compared to most cities in the US. EDUCATION BELOW AVERAGE This district's average testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in NH. Phone Pros Location Great Downtown Area More affordable Great Park Both City and Rural Parts Outdoor Activities Cons High Property Taxes School District Not as Good as other Towns Traffic During Commuting Times Not a Major City "Dover NH, while being more affordable than Portsmouth NH, still boasts a great location and proximity to the coast. RYE NEW HAMPSHIRE IMPORTANT STATISTICS 5,452 POPULATION As of 2021, Portsmouth had a population of just over 5 thousand. HOUSING COSTS Median Home Price: $1.2 MIL CRIME RATE LOW The crime rate in Portsmouth is 16.26 per 1,000 residents. This is low compared to most cities in the US. EDUCATION EXCELLENT This district's average testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 5% of public schools in NH. Phone Pros Location is Amazing Miles of Seacoast Incredible Proximity to Portsmouth and Hampton Great School District Cons High Cost of Living Small town Traffic During Tourist Seasons "Rye NH is a truly luxurious town to live, with miles of coast and incredible proximity to major Seacoast destinations, Rye is a beautiful place to live. KITTERY MAINE IMPORTANT STATISTICS 9,846 POPULATION As of 2021, Portsmouth had a population of just over 9 thousand. HOUSING COSTS Median Home Price: $603,000 CRIME RATE LOW The crime rate in Portsmouth is 20.91 per 1,000 residents. This is low compared to most cities in the US. EDUCATION VERY GOOD This district's average testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public schools in ME. Phone Pros Amazing beaches Great Downtown Close to both Portsmouth and York Great School District Cons High Cost of Living Traffic from Shipyard Small town Traffic During Tourist Seasons "Kittery Maine offers so much, from the local beaches of Fort Foster and Seapoint, to the Kittery Foreside downtown area, there is truly something here for everyone." ELIOT MAINE IMPORTANT STATISTICS 6,747 POPULATION As of 2021, Portsmouth had a population of just over 6 thousand. HOUSING COSTS Median Home Price: $500,000 CRIME RATE VERY LOW The crime rate in Portsmouth is 11.85 per 1,000 residents. This is low compared to most cities in the US. EDUCATION EXCELLENT This district's average testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public schools in ME. Phone Pros Great School District More Rural Areas Close to both Portsmouth and York Beautiful Farms Access to Piscataqua River Cons High Cost of Living Traffic from Shipyard Small town Not Directly on the Ocean "Eliot Maine is a quintessential small Maine town, that offers great School districts, access to the ocean, and a great rural areas if that is what you are looking for." YORK MAINE IMPORTANT STATISTICS 12,316 POPULATION As of 2021, Portsmouth had a population of just over 12 thousand. HOUSING COSTS Median Home Price: $730,000 CRIME RATE LOW The crime rate in Portsmouth is 15.29 per 1,000 residents. This is low compared to most cities in the US. EDUCATION EXCELLENT This district's average testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 20% of public schools in ME. Phone Pros Great School District Amazing Beaches Great local community Close to Ogunquit and Wells Cons High Cost of Living Tourist Destination Small town High Traffic During Summer "York Maine is one of the most popular destinations in Southern Maine, and for good reason. It's beautiful beaches and serene landscape make a beautiful place to live at all times of year." FINDING HOME YOU ARE ONE STEP CLOSER... Of course, we know that finding a home is much more than finding the right school district and low crime rate, but we hope that the information in this guide is a good starting point to get you heading in the right direction towards your next move. There are some other great towns in the Seacoast area that we didn't go over, like Somersworth NH and South Berwick ME to name a few, but in general you can expect much of the same information for these towns. Great schools, low crime, and a beautiful location are the hallmarks of what can only be described as one of the best places to live in the entire country, if not the world. We truly hope that you reach out to us once the time comes to make the move, and we can't wait to help! LIVETHESEACOASTHOMES.COM 603-303-7361 Seacoast ME and NH Reclocation COMPLETE CHECKLIST Research tax differences between ME & NH Contact Financial Advisor to discuss Move Decide on ME vs. NH Contact Local Real Estate Agent Get Pre-Approved by a Local Lender Plan a Visit Prior to the Move to Drive Through Towns Narrow Down Towns (top 3) Research Employment Opportunities (aquire new employment if necessary) Have Agent Set up an MLS Property Search Contact a local Moving Company to Assist the Move Rent a Storage Unit if Necessary Discuss Transition of Current Home Sale and Purchase of New Home Find a House that You Love Begin Packing (start earlier the better) Schedule a virtual or in person showing Place the Home Under Contract Coordinate moving and scheduling Move in, and Welcome Home! Don't hesitate to reach out to us if you need anything. We know moving is a LOT both physically and emotionally, and we have a number of local companies and resources we can recommend to make your move easier! CAM.AVERY@LIVETHESEACOASTHOMES.COM :603-303-7361 THE ROAD TO BUYING A HOUSE 1 OFFER ACCEPTED (DAY 1) You found your perfect house, you've made an offer on it and the seller has accepted. Now the home buying process has begun, and your realtor and lender will work hand in hand to ensure a smooth transaction. 2 DEPOSIT EARNEST MONEY (DAY 1-3) During the first three days you will deposit the earnest money that you agreed to in the offer. This money goes towards your closing costs and will be returned to you if your contingencies fall through. 3 INSPECTIONS(DAY 1-10) 4 APPRAISAL(DAY 10-30) The lender will order a third party appraiser to assess the homes value to ensure the purchase price is no greater than the properties appraised value. A licensed home inspector will inspect the home to determine if there are any small or major issues with the home. You may also have a septic inspector, water inspector, or anything else agreed upon in the offer during this period. 5 CLOSING DAY CONGRATULATIONS! You made it! On closing day you will do a final walkthrough of the home, then go to the closing table and sign documents. Afterwards you will be handed the keys, and the home is yours!
