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What you need to know before you buy your first home in New Hampshire BY KRYSTEN GODFREY MADDOCKS
F
eeling drawn to the “for sale” signs in the neighborhoods you’d like to live in? Tired of helping pay someone else’s mortgage, or wishing you had more space to accommodate your growing family?
Whatever your reason, buying your first home is a big decision. After all, it will likely be the largest purchase you ever make. New Hampshire’s median house price is $285,900, while some counties such as Rockingham ($380,000) and Hillsborough ($300,000) command even higher prices, according to the New Hampshire Realtors’ March data snapshot. If you are a first-time homebuyer, you are in good company. According to the Federal Housing Administration and Urban Institute, first-time homebuyers will continue to outnumber repeat homebuyers. Thanks to a strong economy and historically low interest rates — along with loan programs that support first-timers — you can open the door to homeownership.
20 www.parentingnh.com | JUNE 2019