We moved to Gilford 21 years ago this coming June.
Our kids were young, and we were looking to get out of the small house we had in Saugus MA. We looked all over the North Shore.. and couldn't afford the houses we liked.
In the middle of Jan. 1986 we took the kids to our "summer place" at Lake Shore Parkfor little winter fun. I went to a local store to pick up some supplies and came home with a real estate magazine.
The rest was easy... we sold our place in Mass.. and bought a house 3 times the size in Gilford for less than what we sold our house in Saugus for. Best thing we ever did for our kids, and ourselves. The people were not at all hard to get to know. Our kids loved it.. the schools were great and now our "summer place" is 6 miles from our home. (saves big time on the commute home after a weekend at the lake!
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Lot's of talk out here on the "New Hampshire Advantage" and most of it is focused on the dreaded tax issues. To us the Advatage really was raising kids close to nature in a safe place.
The lakes region is still close enough to the culture and wonderful medical facilities in Boston... but miles away from the traffic, taxes and general hassles of life in greater Boston.
I'm lucky.. as a salesperson I can live wherever I want. High paying jobs are few and far between in the lakes region unless you're a Doctor, Lawyer or own your own successful business. Property "on the lake" is very expensive.. but if you back away from the lake a few miles.. prices are very reasonable for the value received.
Just my 2 cents worth.