The New Hampshire Home Builders Association hosted its 58th annual Home Show in Manchester this weekend.The event featured more than 200 vendors covering all aspects of home building and remodeling.The association said a major theme this year was homeowners looking to reinvest in their properties.CEO Matt Mayberry said the interest is driven by high housing costs, with many residents unable to afford new homes.”The big interest in that is because people are trying to find ways to stay in their homes longer, and they just can’t afford new homes,” Mayberry said. “Interest rates are too high, the cost of building is too high, and so they talk to a lot of folks about renovating their garage, renovating basements.”Mayberry said many homeowners are looking for ways to save money in the long term, such as investing in new windows to bring their heat bills down.”Our window vendors are extremely busy this weekend because they’re talking about triple payne windows to try to keep the cold out,” he said. Others add in-law apartments to their homes.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<Home prices in New Hampshire are up 275% over the past 25 years. According to a market report from the New Hampshire Association of Realtors, the median price of a single-family home in the state is $520,000.Dozens of viewers emailed News 9 in the past week, saying homeownership in the Granite State feels out of reach.For Jeff and Alicia Dubia, home improvements aren’t an option. The couple sold their house at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and have lived with Alicia’s parents ever since.”We just figured it would put us in a good position, clear out some debt,” said Jeff Dubia.Next month, the Dubias will start the pre-approval process all over again. “The rise of the market happened so quickly that we kind of expected it to cool off at the same rate,” said Jeff Dubia.While the couple has had to re-imagine their dream home because of the competitive market, they’re not giving up on getting it.”Because the reality is we’re not going to get that,” said Alicia Dubia.”Six months from now, hopefully in another home and being settled,” said Jeff Dubia.
The New Hampshire Home Builders Association hosted its 58th annual Home Show in Manchester this weekend.
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The event featured more than 200 vendors covering all aspects of home building and remodeling.
The association said a major theme this year was homeowners looking to reinvest in their properties.
CEO Matt Mayberry said the interest is driven by high housing costs, with many residents unable to afford new homes.
“The big interest in that is because people are trying to find ways to stay in their homes longer, and they just can’t afford new homes,” Mayberry said. “Interest rates are too high, the cost of building is too high, and so they talk to a lot of folks about renovating their garage, renovating basements.”
Mayberry said many homeowners are looking for ways to save money in the long term, such as investing in new windows to bring their heat bills down.
“Our window vendors are extremely busy this weekend because they’re talking about triple payne windows to try to keep the cold out,” he said.
Others add in-law apartments to their homes.
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<
Home prices in New Hampshire are up 275% over the past 25 years. According to a market report from the New Hampshire Association of Realtors, the median price of a single-family home in the state is $520,000.
Dozens of viewers emailed News 9 in the past week, saying homeownership in the Granite State feels out of reach.
For Jeff and Alicia Dubia, home improvements aren’t an option. The couple sold their house at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and have lived with Alicia’s parents ever since.
“We just figured it would put us in a good position, clear out some debt,” said Jeff Dubia.
Next month, the Dubias will start the pre-approval process all over again.
“The rise of the market happened so quickly that we kind of expected it to cool off at the same rate,” said Jeff Dubia.
While the couple has had to re-imagine their dream home because of the competitive market, they’re not giving up on getting it.
“Because the reality is we’re not going to get that,” said Alicia Dubia.
“Six months from now, hopefully in another home and being settled,” said Jeff Dubia.