What we are attempting to accomplish

I am writing this note to apprise you of some regulations that are being reviewed for change by the town of Wolfeboro. The state of NH made some changes to the comprehensive shoreland protection act in 2008 and although well intended added more complication and restriction to an already cumbersome process. Three years of after studying the consequences of these rules and with greater input from property owners more modifications were made to strike a balance between the rights of the property owners (many nonvoters) and the universal desire for water quality to be maintained on the state’s lakes . These changes were in large part adopted as the result of researching the rules and consequences of such by the NH Shoreland Coalition chaired by Paul Montrone of Wolfeboro, and other individuals around the state.  There was broad support for these changes, including from the NH Department of Environmental Services and The Lakes Association.  At that time, Rene Pelletier, Assistant Director of the DES , Water Div., was quoted in the Union Leader (April 24, 2011) as saying the bill was a compromise that everyone can work with, “but the changes will not be a net loss to the environment.”

Unfortunately, Wolfeboro chose not to follow all the work that had gone into developing this balanced approach and the bill, that was passed overwhelmingly, by the NH Legislature. Leaving behind a quilt work of regulations with a myriad of rules and complexities, which have been built into our town’s Shoreland regulations. This was accomplished by adopting, on a local level, the states comprehensive shoreline regulations as they stood before the research and input was given to adpot the nearly universally accepted changes.

Presently, the town is reviewing these regulations for change. Generally, what has occurred in the past is that the town’s committee will make a recommendation for change which may or may not strike a balance between the rights of the shorefront property owners and the protection of the water quality. More often than not public forums occur and are met with apathy from waterfront property owners. I along with the Sewall Rd. property owners association and many other lakefront property owners in the town hope to provide more support for change than has occurred in the past. Both to protect the rights of property owners and to see something passed that shorefront owners can get behind in order to support the enhancing of the lake water quality. Please let me know if you or, any one that you know of, may have any interest in supporting such an effort and or receiving more information as it develops. Please do so by clicking follow by e-mail up on the upper right hand side of the page.

Best

John Rourke

john@rourkebuilders.com
www.homes4salenh.com
603-569-0800

Lake Winnipesaukee at its most pristine time of year

This is one of the best times of year to be on the lake

 Late may and early June are the best times of year on Winnipesaukee. You have can much of the laketo yourself on any given day other than the occasional fisherman doing his best Old Man in the Sea impersonation. Downtown Wolfeboro is still quiet although many of the shop owners seem to be moving out of Winter gear and buzzing about in preparation of the summer onslaught which can be much like attempting to get a sip of water from a wide open fire hydrant when everyone arrives. Save for the houses on the shore this is much how the lake must have looked for hundreds of years. Hard to imagine what the first settlers thought in first coming across a site such as this.

Lake Winnipesaukee ice out

Ice out fast approaching on Lake Winnipesaukee for 2013

Me thinks that all of the ice will be gone this weekend!

Check out the wikipedia link to lear more about Lake Winnipesaukee ice out. What defines it as well as the historical dates for the event. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Winnipesaukee_Ice-Out

Sewall Woods Wolfeboro

Sewall Woods

This past Sunday I ventured out to one of my favorite rites of Spring in Wolfeboro which is Nordic Skiing in Sewall Woods. For me this ranks up there with a return trip on the boat, from one end of Winnipesaukee to the other, across a moonlit sky filled with stars during a August night. Sewall Woods consists of a network of trails near downtown Wolfeboro that wind along a forest adjacent to Wolfeboro Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee. It is absolutely pristine this time of year. Sunday was a 50 plus degree day and the snow cover was enough to not offer any problems. The lack of the need for the warming hut always seems to endear the undertaking to my fellow skiiers. This trail system connects to a more elaborate system which can take you into the Abenaki downhill ski area for the more adventurous. What I can offer is this is a great experience and should be taken advantage of whether you live in Wolfeboro or are just visiting. John@rourkebuilders.com.

The Worst Colors to Use in a Home

The Worst Colors to Use in a Home

Geo Thermal on Lake Winnipesaukee

 

Good news for anyone considering building on lake Winnipesaukee and contemplating a new Geothermal heating system in 2013. This holds true for both new construction and existing. The federal government still has in place through 2016 30% tax credit available for the material relating to the installation of Geothermal heat pumps. Many of the items available for the tax credits are limited in dollar value to a maximum of $1,500. This is not true for Geothermal pumps for which there is no cap. Further this is a credit not a deduction therefore for every dollar that you spend you will save an equal amount on your tax liability. This program is slated to go through December of 2016. All you will need is a certification (for program qualification) from the manufacturer, receipts for your purchase. The equipment must have been energy star rated at the time of manufacture. Take advantage if you can. I believe that this should be a serious consideration for anyone installing a new heating system today. You will receive both the immediate benefit of the savings offered by the credit and the longer term benefit of lower utility bills through the use of water pumped from the earth as your heating source. For those of you unfamiliar with Geothermal heating here is a useful link to past into your browser www.altenergymag.com/emagazine/2009/08/my-geothermal-home-sweet-home/1366. Please e-mail me with any questions that I can answer at John@rourkebuilders.com. Please visit us at www.winnipesaukee.homes4salenh.com

New Hampshire Tax Advantage

This information was excerpted from Bankrate.com  as provided by Kay Bell

Personal income tax

• New Hampshire does not tax an individual's earned income (W-2 wages).
• The state does tax, at a 5 percent rate, income from dividends and interest. A checklist on the New Hampshire Department of Revenue website details what the state considers taxable or nontaxable.
• The dividends and interest tax is due from resident individuals, partnerships, limited liability companies and fiduciaries with nontransferable shares earning more than $2,400 annually ($4,800 for joint filers) from their investments. The following exemptions may apply:
  -- A $1,200 exemption for residents who are 65 years of age or older.
  -- A $1,200 exemption for residents who are blind, regardless of age.
  -- $1,200 exemption for disabled individuals who are unable to work, provided they have not reached their 65th birthday.
• The state's gambling tax, a 10 percent tax on any and all gambling winnings received between July 1, 2009 and May 22, 2011, was repealed on May 23, 2011.
• New Hampshire's tax returns are due on April 15 or the next business day if that date falls on a weekend or holiday.

Sales Tax

• There is no general ales tax in the state of NH

 Personal and Real Property taxes   

• Property tax bills are issued by the municipality where the property is located on either an annual, semiannual or quarterly basis.
• Due dates vary based upon the issue date of the bill. The assessed valuation for residential property is based on 100 percent of the full market value.
• Local tax rates are adjusted to reflect the changes in property value. The tax rates that reflect this adjustment are called equalized tax rates, or ETR, and reflect the true market value of property in all municipalities.

The Low and Moderate Income Homeowner's Property Tax Relief Program runs annually between May 1 and June 30.  

• The state's legacy and succession tax was repealed, effective for deaths occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2003.
• New Hampshire's estate tax is equal to the credit for state death taxes paid on the federal estate tax return. For deaths occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2005, a New Hampshire estate tax return is not required due to the federal repeal of the estate death tax credit.

 Inheritance and Estate taxes

• The state's legacy and succession tax was repealed, effective for deaths occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2003.
• New Hampshire's estate tax is equal to the credit for state death taxes paid on the federal estate tax return. For deaths occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2005, a New Hampshire estate tax return is not required due to the federal repeal of the estate death tax credit.

 For more information, visit the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration website.