It's no wonder I went into real estate at such a young age, 24 to be precise, it's in the genes! Our Canadian family emigrated to the United States from Quebec just over 40 years ago to start a life and business building and selling houses. If I have my family history correct, it was my great uncle who started JMJ Construction in South Windsor, CT. His brother (my grandfather), my own father and his brothers worked in the construction of new homes throughout South Windsor, Ellington and neighboring towns for several decades. My other great uncle started Jacques and Sons Builders in Glastonbury. Years later my own father and his brother started Jacques Bros Construction. Several women in my family were involved in real estate as well.  Nancy Jacques worked for her father under JMJ Constr... 09/28/2016

Moving to Keene, NH With the small city of Keene, NH (population 23k) being one of the top 10 places to live in our state, it's no wonder so many folks from abutting states chose Keene, NH as the place they want to call home. Like myself, who realized Keene, NH is a very special place back in 1994-98 as I completed my undergraduate degree at Keene State College, a weekend visit to Keene during any of the four seasons will sell the Monadnock Region to just about anyone!The Monadnock Region, in which Keene is the "hub", is a buckeful of restaurants for every taste, shops to suit tourists and residents alike, seasonal events (this year's pumpkin events) and family activities. Not to mention the hikes you can take and the lakes around every mountainous corner.Spend a weekend in Keene this f... 09/27/2016

I am always amazed at how closely I get to know my clients during the few months we work together, and at how crucial that is to our completing a transaction together.  Not only do clients share with me their biggest dreams about where they wish to live, but I learn what they are motivated by, what their personal concerns are, and take them on as my own while I approach the business transaction with with consideration of their goals and their personal needs. With each client comes a period early on where we decide how we are going to work together.  What type of rapport will we have and what boundaries will each of us maintain.  Some people have tight boundaries, while others allow me to see emotions they need to sort through in order to reach that point where they have processed that t... 10/15/2013

On Tap DJ and Karaoke Entertainment Bringing a unique party experience to the Monadnock Region!   Looking for live music in the Keene NH region? Try Version Six Band! (click on link for a schedule of upcoming events) Whether you're looking for a wedding DJ or for a live band in the Monadnock Region, you should give this guy a call!  On Tap DJ and Karaoke Entertainment and Version 6 band for all your musical party needs! Props and Lighting, Energy and Fun!   Weddings Rehearsal Dinner Parties Halloween Parties and Holiday Theme Parties Campgrounds Bars and Clubs Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvah Birthday Parties Bridal Showers College Events Cookouts and Outdoor Parties Corporate Events and Corporate Functions Fundraisers School Dances School Event or Talent Shows Municipal events entertainmen... 09/30/2013

Each day I wake up, get ready as everyone does though I'd like to think I'm preparing for a relay race (of the business type) each day. My routine is a lengthy one but done very efficiently, involving taking care of myself, my children, my pets and my house.  Animal feeding (we have many) is an enjoyable part that begins my day and rolls into a quick 15 minute jog. Today my 9 year old daughter joined me, which was quite nice.  Next comes the quick shower and getting myself ready. Now onto breakfast for the kids who are hopefully dressed and in a good mood by that time. Backpacks filled, tummys stuffed, everyone brushes teeth and we move onto some cuddles and chats before the bus comes. Bye bye bus... Next, I pressure myself with the question of, "What will I do today that increases the ... 09/12/2013

Rentals in Keene, Keene Rentals, Rentals in Cheshire County...Want to find a GREAT Tenant? I can list your home or condo and find you a well qualified tenant!   Because YOU want the peace of mind that your home is being well cared for!   Benefits to listing your home or condo for rent with me: Having an agent working directly with tenants keeps the relationship professional between you and the tenant I am available for showings at times that are convenient for the tenant while you're at work I advertise to a great pool of qualified tenants through the MLS, websites and especially through other REALTORS Thorough tenant screening, credit, employment and reference checks Get access to a lease agreement that has been written by an attorney which can be individualized to meet your needs Advi... 09/11/2013

After a brief six month leave from my nearly 12 year real estate career, starting over is, well, like starting over.  It's like opening up a new shop with no inventory. I spent my first week seeking out expired listings and for sale by owners, listed a home for rent and hopefully located a suitable condo for a qualified tenant. I couldn't ask for more for my first week back again, but I will. My time away was just enough to tune me up for a busy new season in real estate for me. I'm fresh, I have time and desire, and I'm looking for good leads for business.  I've made an improvement agreement with myself not to waste my time working with unqualified customers because they will take away from the time I want to devote to those who have committed with me to a plan that will procure a purc... 07/15/2013

There are several ways, in today's modern world, that buyers are finding Realtors in NH.  Buyers who are relocating for employment are often times affiliated with a relocation department which may or may not offer them relocation benefits. In such a case, the Realtor and the agency are recommended to them on a referral basis.  I am a Cartus certified agent, representing buyers, prospective tenants and sellers alike as they relocate to and from Keene NH due to a change in their employment.  I have assisted buyers and sellers with their relocation real estate transactions so they an make their move without hassels of worrying about their transaction.  I recently helped a corporate buyer find a home by creating a video "showing" for them, as they were buying from out of state. They purchas... 12/13/2012

   Written by: Eric Burke It is hard to believe that the summer is almost over and the leaves will be falling off of the trees sooner rather than later.  Fall is a time where everyone gets back into their normal routine and buckles down for those dreaded New England Winters.  I have to admit that fall may be my favorite time of the year. Some reasons are that Football starts, Kids are back at school (thank god), fall foliage, Apple Picking, Pumpkin beer, etc….  Another reason that this is one of my favorite times is because of the Keene Pumpkin Festival. Now the first time I attended this festival I was a college student and I can tell you I honestly don’t remember much of it.  Those were my glory days and I can assure you I had quite a good time and didn’t look at any pumpkins.  Althou... 09/04/2012

The Fresh Air Fund is a non profit that's been around since 1877. The Fresh Air Fund has been giving inner-city children the joy of a summer vacation with volunteer host families for one or two weeks each summer in areas along the east coast outside of NYC.  The Fresh Air Fund helps underpriviledged, inner city children create unforgettable memories and fresh possibilities. My family and I have hosted a child from The Fresh Air Fund for 2 years, this summer will be our 3rd.  (Read about our experiences!) The first year, after our interview with a program coordinator from our region, we were eligible to host a child age 6 or older. Due to our oldest being 6, we requested a little girl between 6-8 years of age.  3 weeks before the scheduled arrival of a child, we learned that a family had... 05/25/2012

I have been tracking the Keene, NH real estate market for several months now to see if there is any indication of positive changes taking place in the market.  I've been looking for a continuous trend and looking at average days on market, average listing price to selling price, and also comparing from month to month the percent of homes that are pending vs. active on the market. Here's what I'm finding. Listing inventory comparing pending vs. active: This month, Keene's residential listing inventory is huge, but the good news is that 38% of the market is under contract at this time. Last month, 30% of the Keene residential listing market was under contract and the month prior it was 25%.   Listing price vs. Selling price The average days on the market (using Keene's pending listing inv... 05/03/2012

I've been noticing significant differences between the listing services among agents in my region. For some, listing a property by placing it in the MLS and on major websites remains the extent of what they do in regards to marketing.  Others take the extra step and send out flyers, postcards, virtual tours and hold open houses (public/broker). I haven't noticed much in the development of agents who make take it one step further and utilize social media marketing tools available to them. Because it's a fact that most all buyers begin looking on the internet now, yes it's 2012 and we can truly say that, I've enjoyed finding new ways to make my listings stand out for buyers online. I'm talking about the use of proper staging, taking dozens (over 20) high quality photographs from different... 04/26/2012

Bald Is Beautiful~2012 Keene, NH May 5th 2012         Unfortunately nearly everyone in the United States knows someone that has had cancer, or maybe even you have beaten the odds. Bald is Beautiful is an annual event that raises funds for the care and treatment of cancer patients at the Kingsbury Pavilion.            In 2009 my father passed away from a 5 year long battle with rectal cancer. David Haynes was one of the original owners of North East Water Wells Inc, and was an upstanding member on the water well council, and The National Ground Water Association. He was respected enough to be the well specialist on the television show This Old House. On May 5th 2012 my cousin Elizabeth Haynes will be shaving her head bald in his memory.               We are asking for everyone to at leas... 04/23/2012

Your thinking about selling and you've been looking at listings on websites for 6 months now.  You haven't yet taken the plunge because there's something holding you back.  Whether it be that you think you owe more than the house is worth, or you want to wait until the market improves, or you have children in college still and want to see if they'll need to come back home after they graduate, or you haven't yet found the right home... it's probably a good idea to write me into your schedule before you plan to attend that open house this weekend! Take the first step If you find yourself looking at listings dreaming about your next home, it's probably time to take a step in that direction toward achieving your goals.  Selling and buying are not a simple, short process.  It won't happen qu... 04/05/2012

I teach first time homebuyer workshops several times each year and during these workshops I have tried to emphasize some key point for buyers when it comes to shopping for a home. Below I've listed a few that tend to come to mind right away:   The importance of selecting an agent for representation.  I like to convey the importance of choosing an agent who the buyer not only gets along with, but who communicates with them in a way that they will respond. What I mean by that is, if a buyer is a heavy texter, their agent must have text messaging to make communication faster and more efficient and, thereby, creating a smoother transaction.   The second point I bring up is, choose an agent who listens to you. The old cliche "the buyer is always right" is pretty true when it comes to purchas... 02/01/2012

I am licensed as a Broker in the state of New Hampshire and travel up to one hour from Cheshire County for my clients.   Below is a list of my services.   1. CMA services: There are 2 options available to my clients wishing to have a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) done. -The first is a general assessment of a home to determine it's current market value. I help potential sellers prepare their home for the market as well as offer staging advice and tips on home improvement projects that would pay off when they're ready to sell. Additionally, I get the potential sellers prepared for purchase so that they are well in control of their finances and have a plan for moving out. This option is best used when a seller is making plans for a future move. -The second is a more formal report prov... 01/09/2012

For over 8 years On-Tap DJ and Karaoke Entertainment has offered disc jockey music services in the Monadnock Region. Kris Kleine, business owner, is also in the band "Version Six" that frequently plays at Waxy O'Connor's in Keene, NH.  If it involves music and livens up a party, Kris will do it! Kris offers karaoke and dj services for almost any party or event.  Some of the most popular events he's asked to dj are: Weddings, graduation parties, birthday parties, holiday parties, work parties, bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs, rehearsal dinner entertainment (karaoke is fun for this), charity events, school functions, campgrounds, clubs and regular house parties.   Kris is a dj who reads the crowd. He teaches line dances, brings along props and offers special lighting options for the ultimat... 12/19/2011

2011 was a GREAT year! Looking back I feel hopeful our local economy is on the improve-direction though there's no real easy way to predict that. I can look at the steadiness of my business and the variety of leads coming not only as buyers ( as was heavily the case in 2010 with the homebuyer tax credit) but as sellers. Buyers are realistic about their positions and sellers are as well. Though there was a fair share of short sale and foreclosures I saw an increase in cash purchases of all price range, especially upper end! In Keene NH, I've seen lots of new apartment buildings go up, Keene State College growths and, in general, an increase in commercial development. Our Main Street is vibrant and busy, some of our more popular retail rental spaces have shifted over to Main Street but I ... 12/07/2011

"I love this listing but my house hasn't sold yet..."  I've heard this over and over this past year.  Especially from folks who are searching for a condo in Keene, New Hampshire. To be the first to sell your home you need aggressive marketing and a competitive price from the start. Let's face it, there are dozens of homes available on the market for buyers in your price range. You have to be the one to get chosen NEXT.   This condo is located in desirable West Keene and right besides our new, state of the art YMCA facility scheduled to open in just 2 months.  It's my listing at 24D Stonehouse Lane in Keene. While it the dream of so many who have looked at it recently, what's the problem and why hasn't it sold?  The comment I've received time and time again is, if only our house would se... 10/03/2011

3 Year Home Sales' Price Comparison Cheshire County New Hampshire It's always interesting to look back a few years and see what changes have occured in the market. Sellers ask me all the time if their home prices may increase next year, which I can not predict.  But I CAN look back to see what their home might have been worth in the years prior. Below is a 3 year comparison of residential, single family home sales in Cheshire County, NH taken from NNEREN. (Northern New England Real Estate Network). 2009 Total Sales: 306 Average days on the market:123 Average selling price: $184,270 Median selling price: $169,000 2010 Total Sales: 318 Average days on the market:106 Average selling price: $189,904 Median selling price: $162,750 2011 Total Sales: 292 Average days on the market:117 Average ... 08/02/2011