Julia Stantic
North Branch Construction’s Julia Stantic earns LEED Green Associate Certification
North Branch Construction announced that Julia Stantic, assistant project manager, has recently received the LEED Green Associate credential from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED Green Associates are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and implement green building practices within the workplace and community.
“Julia obtaining the LEED Green Associate designation is just another example of her commitment to ensuring she has the skills and knowledge base to most effectively serve our green building clients,” said Joseph H. Campbell, North Branch Construction president. “Attaining LEED Green Associate credentials is an important and valuable contribution that Julia has made to the quality of the services North Branch Construction provides our clients.”
Antrim Planning Board approves Battaglia subdivision
The Antrim Planning Board gave approval for a seven-lot subdivision proposed by Battaglia Foundations at Thursday night’s public hearing.
The Planning Board also approved two lot-line mergers and a special use wetlands permit to enable a driveway to access the property. The hearing had been rescheduled after the April 4 snowstorm.
“We are very pleased with how willing the Antrim Planning Board has been to work with us to move this project forward, and we’re very happy with the outcome,” said John Lefebvre of Fieldstone Consulting, who represents Battaglia Foundations.
The Battaglia subdivision will be located at Concord Street, North Main Street and Mescilbrooks Road in Antrim, which is located in the Village and Residential districts. The homes will be connected to town sewer and water.
Lefebvre noted that at this time, the Battaglia family plans to retain two of the proposed lots for family use, with the other five lots being developed for sale.
During deliberations, Planning Board member John Anderson asked if there was a possibility for Battaglia to build townhouses instead of single-family homes.
“There is a critical shortage of housing, and people are moving out of Antrim because they can’t find housing,” Anderson said. “Any housing we can provide in the downtown area will be a huge benefit to the town. We are trying to consolidate residential projects that are on town water and sewer.”
Patrick Battaglia responded that building duplexes instead of single-family homes was “definitely a possibility.”
“There is definitely a high demand for housing,” Battaglia said. “I think a lot of people would jump at the chance to buy a duplex for their families.”
Lefebvre noted that the project “is trying to make good use of the land.”
“My client has made good aesthetic choices as far as making this an attractive project,” he said.
In response to questions from the board about providing safe walking access to the village via Mescilbrooks Road, Lefebvre said they will look into the possibility of creating a footpath.
After some discussion, the board determined that building duplexes instead of single-family homes on the subdivision would not require a new application. Following deliberation, the board approved the requested lot-line adjustment, a special use permit for the driveway and the subdivision permit.
The special use permit will allow Battaglia to build a driveway over existing wetlands. According to Lefebvre, the road access over the wetlands is the only way to access the 25-acre property.
“Just to confirm, the lot cannot be used or accessed without this crossing,” Lefebvre said. “We have chosen the lowest-impact access points, and we are protecting the wetlands as best we can.”
Lefebvre noted that because the development will be connected to town water and sewer, no septic system is required and impact on wetlands will be negligible.
The board granted the special permit on the conditions that the driveway crossing receives approval from the state Department of Environmental Services, that Battaglia or his representatives meet with the Conservation Commission for their input and approval and that the project incorporate best practices for treating stormwater and erosion.
The subdivision permit was granted with the condition that the DOT review approve the proposed new driveways for the property off of Route 202. Approvals for water and sewer connections and from the Fire Department are also required.
The board also voted to include a note within the subdivision approval that “the board has a strong preference for duplexes.”
“We can’t mandate duplexes,” Anderson clarified. “We can only suggest them.” — Jesseca Timmons, Monadnock Ledger-Transcript
WORK Lakes Region to celebrate grand opening with community, partners
WORK Lakes Region, a new co-working space and event studio in Laconia, is holding its Grand Opening Celebration on Thursday, May 2, 4 – 6 p.m. at 51 Elm Street in Laconia. This event is presented by The Dow Group in collaboration with construction management partner BPS, lighting and electrical contractor Daniels Electric, WORK Lakes Region featured member JAG-NH, Northeast Communications, and more.
The grand opening marks one year after the lease signing and six months following WORK Lakes Region’s initial soft opening.
In partnership with Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce and Lakes Region Tourism Association, WORK Lakes Region will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring entertainment, appetizers, special offers, and door prizes for those who attend. Libations will be provided by Free Spirits Mobile Bar. The celebration will also include special acknowledgments, celebrating the contributions of local service providers, upcoming partners, and founding members who have played a role in crafting the space.
Existing-home sales descended 4.3% in March
Existing-home sales slipped in March, according to the National Association of Realtor. Among the four major U.S. regions, sales slid in the Midwest, South and West, but rose in the Northeast for the first time since November 2023. Year-over-year, sales decreased in all regions.
Total existing-home sales – completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – receded 4.3% from February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.19 million in March. Year-over-year, sales waned 3.7% (down from 4.35 million in March 2023).
“Though rebounding from cyclical lows, home sales are stuck because interest rates have not made any major moves,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “There are nearly six million more jobs now compared to pre-COVID highs, which suggests more aspiring home buyers exist in the market.”
Total housing inventory registered at the end of March was 1.11 million units, up 4.7% from February and 14.4% from one year ago (970,000). Unsold inventory sits at a 3.2-month supply at the current sales pace, up from 2.9 months in February and 2.7 months in March 2023.
“More inventory is always welcomed in the current environment,” Yun added. “Frankly, it’s a great time to list with ongoing multiple offers on mid-priced properties and, overall, home prices continuing to rise.”
The median existing-home price for all housing types in March was $393,500, an increase of 4.8% from the previous year ($375,300). All four U.S. regions registered price gains.
REALTORS Confidence Index
According to the monthly REALTORS Confidence Index, properties typically remained on the market for 33 days in March, down from 38 days in February but up from 29 days in March 2023.
First-time buyers were responsible for 32% of sales in March, up from 26% in February and 28% in March 2023. NAR’s 2023 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers – released in November 2023– found that the annual share of first-time buyers was 32%.
All-cash sales accounted for 28% of transactions in March, down from 33% in February but up from 27% one year ago.
Individual investors or second-home buyers, who make up many cash sales, purchased 15% of homes in March, down from 21% in February and 17% in March 2023.
Distressed sales – foreclosures and short sales – represented 2% of sales in March, virtually unchanged from last month and the prior year.
Mortgage Rates
According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.88% as of April 11. That’s up from 6.82% the previous week and 6.27% one year ago.
Single-family and Condo/Co-op Sales: Single-family home sales declined to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.8 million in March, down 4.3% from 3.97 million in February and 2.8% from the prior year. The median existing single-family home price was $397,200 in March, up 4.7% from March 2023.
At a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 390,000 units in March, existing condominium and co-op sales decreased 4.9% from last month and 11.4% from one year ago (440,000 units). The median existing condo price was $357,400 in March, up 5.8% from the previous year ($337,900).
Regional Breakdown: Existing-home sales in the Northeast climbed 4.2% from February to an annual rate of 500,000 in March, ending a four-month streak where sales in the Northeast registered 480,000 units. Compared to March 2023, home sales were down 3.8%. The median price in the Northeast was $434,600, up 9.9% from one year ago.
In the Midwest, existing-home sales retracted 1.9% from one month ago to an annual rate of 1.01 million in March, down 1.0% from the prior year. The median price in the Midwest was $292,400, up 7.5% from March 2023.
Existing-home sales in the South faded 5.9% from February to an annual rate of 1.9 million in March, down 5.0% from one year before. The median price in the South was $359,100, up 3.4% from last year.
In the West, existing-home sales slumped 8.2% from a month ago to an annual rate of 780,000 in March, a decline of 3.7% from the previous year. The median price in the West was $603,000, up 6.7% from March 2023. — NAR Press Release
Another piece of Chinese owned property in Nashua has come to the public’s attention — the former Daniel Webster College property, encompassing some 52 acres. Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess encouraged the Board of Aldermen on Sept. 9 to pass a resolution giving him the authority to seek state and/or federal funds to purchase the property, currently owned by Xinhua Education Consulting Services Corp.
The nonprofit and ReVision Energy expand renewable energy portfolio with new solar panels across five properties in the Monadnock Region
While home prices might be moderating in other parts of the country, the median price of a single-family house in New Hampshire rose to $550,000 in August, the second highest price point this current year. That price is just $3,000 more than the $547,000 recorded in July, but it is $47,500 more than January’s $502,500. The highest median price in 2025 was $569,450, recorded in June and the most ever recorded in the state.
ApprenticeshipNH has partnered with Associated Builders and Contractors of New Hampshire/Vermont and Elm Grove Companies to launch New Hampshire’s first registered apprenticeship program (RAP) for maintenance technicians
Explore how post-pandemic growth, affordability challenges, and evolving housing trends are transforming the Queen City’s future.
The Lake Estate on Winnisquam sees diamonds and stars in its future
Amid a statewide housing shortage, a religious nonprofit recently opened applications for more than 60 new workforce housing apartments in Peterborough.
Concord considers $535K rail purchase to extend Greenway Trail, raising questions for Scenic Railriders
Relax & Co., which provided an array of services to property owners in the Lake Sunapee area, had already been forced to lay off workers earlier this month.
