Hosted by Wolfeboro Parks and Recreation

Saturday, February 8th

When: 6 PM - 11:00 PM

Where: Abenaki Ski Area 

390 Pine Hill RdWolfeboro, New Hampshire 03894

The Annual Progressive XC Ski Dinner is held on the Abenaki X-Country Ski Loop Trail. Participants will strap on skis, snowshoes or good winter boots and progress out on to the candle-lit 4 Kilometer XC Ski Loop starting at Abenaki Ski Area. Skiers and hikers will stop at warm bonfires along the 4K trail and be treated to a delicious multi-course Italian dinner served at various stations along the way. Appetizers and a small warming fire will greet participants at the first table, followed by a delicious Italian main course at the second station a kilometer or two down the trail, followed by the dessert station in Pikes Pasture, complete with s’mores, ice cream sandwiches, cookies, cocoa, coffee and more.

In between stations, participants ski or hike through the tranquil woods of the Abenaki Loop Trail, lit by hundreds of candle-lit luminaries.

Local restaurants, cafe's, and chefs contribute their expertise to provide a simply delicious meal, served to you under the stars. Participating restaurants in the past have included Garwood’s, Wolfeboro Inn, Nolan's, Harvest Market and Hunter’s Shop N' Save It is truly a magical event that is sponsored by Wolfeboro Parks and Recreation and Wolfeboro Lions Club all to raise funds for the Friends of Abenaki. All skiers/hikers must have a ticket that is available to purchase for $25 for adults, $15 for youth.

We recommend bringing the following items for your enjoyment of the experience: headlamp, warm layers, appropriate gear for being outside at night in February, a sense of adventure and an empty stomach! Limited to 125 participants, this event typically sells out prior to the day of the event.  As of today, tickets are still available!!!

Are you in the market or thinking about purchasing a new home? Well, here are some handy tips from Meghan Belnap for just that... best of luck with your search!

Are you planning to move? Is it going to be cold when you relocate? Here are four ideas to help make the home search process faster and more convenient during the colder months:

Attend cozy open houses

Use the time you're looking for a home to mingle and fight the winter blues. Go see what's open in your area, check out a new location or inspect a home you really want. Open houses provide many opportunities including the chance to mingle and network. Even if you don't like the house you visit, you may hear of others nearby. You'll find many houses for sale in the winter that have open houses, and checking them out in person can show you exactly what the house will be like during the colder months.

Read the home inspection reports

While it's chilly outside, pull up a comfy chair and a mug of hot chocolate or coffee and do some research. With the bad weather and cold air that come with the season in some areas of the country, it's easier to sit inside and get the monotonous part of moving out of the way first. Plus, getting some of the boring stuff done early gives you more time to spend on the fun things like getting open house gifts.

Look for drafts and other leaks

There's no better time than winter to check out houses for sale. With the home working at the highest level, potential buyers can easily check out windows and doors for air leaks. Gaps are easier to find because drafts are often present when the winter wind is blowing hard outside. Plus, going to showings in the winter lets you see the property during the drab months of the year, allowing you to envision it in the nicer weather.

Check out the parking in bad weather

When you need a parking spot close to home in the winter, it's best to go for showings during this season. Looking at houses when there's snow on the ground lets you see where the problems occur in the area. You can avoid houses that have access problems, drainage issues or are last on the list for the snowplow.

Many people think winter is a bad time to look for a new home; however, several advantages make this season better than most. For example, if you don't want to go out in the cold weather, then chances are neither will your neighbors. Second, a home will show all its problems in the winter because the systems have to work extremely hard to keep up with frigid temperatures.

 

Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She finds happiness in researching new topics that expand her horizons.

 

Thinking about buying that new home or a vacation house you've always wanted so you can get away from it all? Now is the time to start looking! Following is a terrific article by Elizabeth La Riva for reasons to consider buying now:

With the holidays over, heading into the coldest months of the year, many people might assume that now is a terrible time to buy a home. However, now is the best time to score a deal on that dream house!

Here are a few reasons why it may be in your best interest to buy a house this winter:

Motivated Sellers

The colder months tend to see less activity as far as listings and sales go. This may seem like a disadvantage; however, if you're able to find a house that meets your needs, chances are you'll also have found a motivated seller. The majority of homes are listed in the spring/summer, so if you've stumbled upon a listing that's been on the market for a while, the seller will likely be ready to negotiate. 

Less Competition

We've all heard the story of the dreaded bidding war. It seems today's market is seeing this happen more than ever. Not only can it drive the price of the home above asking; you also run the risk of emotional overspending or losing the property altogether. 

With the majority of buyers taking a break from house-hunting, now is an optimal time to start your search. With the likelihood of competing offers dropping significantly, buyers can regain some control during negotiations.  

Lower Interest Rates

This is not a guarantee, however. Loan and mortgages interest rates fluctuate throughout the year. With less people looking to buy and borrow right now, interest rates tend to dip, which is a bonus for borrowers. 

It may appear to be an insignificant rate difference; however, over the term of your mortgage, you'll be in for some serious savings. So while you're out and about this winter, make a trip to your bank for a mortgage pre-approval!

Professional Availability

With fewer homes on the market, real estate agents tend to find themselves with more overall availability. If you're ready to buy a home, you'll benefit as your REALTOR® will have more time to dedicate to your search and negotiation once your dream home is found. 

Not only does the real estate market slow down during the winter, so do related professions. Mortgage brokers, home inspectors and legal professionals all may have some extra time on their hands, meaning your deal may be able to close quicker. 

Buying a new home during the winter can seem like a daunting task; however, if you're able to close on a deal in January or February, chances are you'll be enjoying the benefits for years to come! Lower purchase price and better interest rates are just a couple of the reasons why buying that dream house right now may be worth it!

 

Elizabeth La Riva, (R) ABR®, e-PRO®, MRP, is a native of Lima, Peru, and speaks fluent English and Spanish. She services the area of Oahu, Hawaii, and assists buyers and sellers with their real estate transactions. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering and giving back to the community.

Looking for something fun to do outside this weekend?  Well, search no more, plenty of outdoor activities in Wolfeboro for the whole family to enjoy!

Abenaki Ski Area Click here for more information on America's oldest small ski area, located right in the heart of Wolfeboro. Home to the Abenaki Ski Team, 5 trails, high speed rope tow, glade skiing, terrain park and some of the best groomed conditions in NH.

       

Pop Whalen Ice & Arts Center Click here for information on Public Skating,Stick Practice schedules and more.

Wolfeboro Cross Country Ski Association Since 1972, The Nordic Skier and Wolfeboro XC have joined as partners in the pursuit of a top notch nordic ski center. Click here for more information.  

 

Following is an article written by Daniel Bortz. I think, you'll find this an interesting read.

Timing determines so much when you're buying a house. Although the best time to buy a house is when you're ready both financially and emotionally, there are other factors that can help you decide when to buy a house.

By timing your purchase just right, you can nab a great home that's just right for you.  

What Is the Best Month to Buy a House?

Let's make this clear: There's no such thing as a guaranteed "best month" to purchase a home. (C'mon, we never said this would be easy!)

While some conventional wisdom says there is a best time of year to buy a house — during spring home buying season (April to June) — there are pluses and minuses when it comes to what month you choose to purchase a home.

(Note: Real estate is local. Determining a best time utlimately depends on conditions in your local market.)

Here we've outlined some of the reasons different months can turn out to be the best time to buy a house for you:

January to March. Winter isn't such a bad time to buy a house. Though there's less inventory — meaning there are fewer homes for sale — there are fewer home buyers too, so you have less competition. That means there's a lower likelihood of a bidding war, which can be a stressful experience for home buyers. Another benefit of buying a house during the cold-weather months: Home prices are typically the lowest they'll be all year.

Still, there are drawbacks to buying a house between January and March. Inclement weather can also be a challenge, since snow or ice could make it difficult to drive around and view homes or do a thorough home inspection of some elements, such as a roof. 

April to June. Welcome to spring home buying season— the peak months for not only housing supply, but also the number of home buyers shopping for houses. Because most families want to move when the kids are out of school, there's a big incentive to buy a house this time of year, since many home buyers need to allow 30 to 60 days for closing.

The warmer weather also makes open houses more enjoyable, landscaping easier to evaluate, and inspections more comprehensive.

Even though it's generally regarded as the best time of year to buy a house, there are downsides to the spring market. For starters, you'll face more competition from other home buyers —  meaning you have to move quickly when a great listing hits the market. Bidding wars are a lot more common, you tend to have less negotiating power, and home prices tend to tick up during spring.

July to September. If you can handle the heat (and a little competition), summer may be the one of the best times of year to buy. Now that the spring home buying craze is over, most home prices return to normal, allowing you to save some money. The sunniest time of the year also makes being outdoors and attending open houses more enjoyable.

The hot temperatures also give home buyers the opportunity to test how well a property's air conditioning system holds up in warm weather, which is something they can't usually test during other times of the year.

October to December. The main downside of buying a house in autumn is that there may not be as many homes for sale in the fall as there are in the spring. But it's not like the market goes completely quiet.

Many home buyers consider fall the best time of year to buy a house because of price reductions. Because home sellers tend to list their homes in the spring, sellers whose houses haven't sold yet may be motivated to find buyers, and prices start to reflect that.

Daniel Bortz is a freelance writer based in Washington, D.C., whose work has appeared in "The New York Times," "The Washington Post," "Money" magazine, "Consumer Reports," "Entrepreneur" magazine, and more.