Weirs Beach Village

Welcome to our Virtual Open House !

2012-01-15T06:02:00.000-08:00

Our Realtors are hosting an Open House on Sunday, January 15th and Monday, January 16th from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM ! It is the perfect weekend to drive up to Weirs Beach Village and take a tour of these highly affordable four season homes which start at just $149,900.00!

For those of you who can't attend in person I've put together a little Virtual Open House. How easy is that? Just go pour yourself another cup of coffee, get comfortable in your favorite chair, and set off on your virtual tour.

Here is some additional information about the area and Weirs Beach Village. Hopefully you will find it helpful as you make a decision to buy a home in our community of high quality, highly affordable homes.

" Imagine a location that makes you smile each morning! Now imagine living in a charming new home in the heart of the Weirs Beach area, just 10 minutes from the famed Gunstock Ski area and all the year-round pleasures of New Hampshire’s incomparable Lakes Region with snowmobiling, hiking, swimming, boating, skiing, food and fun at your doorstep. Imagine further being only a short walk to the Mount Washington dock and the celebrated beach on Lake Winnipesaukee.

Pinch yourself and stop imagining, because with the affordable new Weirs Beach Village offering homes starting at just $149,900, this lifestyle is a reachable reality.

Weirs Beach Village is a wonderful and unique new community of detached destination homes that offer carefree year-round living. Explore what life’s pleasures offer and get ready to embrace a new home that will be the centerpiece of happy memories for generations to come.

“We absolutely love our new home,” remarked new homeowners Bonnie and Mark.

“As a family with two young children, Weirs Beach Village has been a wonderful　getaway from city life. The neighborhood is serene,　beautiful and we are　surrounded　by great neighbors. It is a great gift we have been fortunate enough to give to our children. We know the memories we have made and will continue to make will last a lifetime.”

Numerous floor plans as well as popular options make it possible to personalize and put the finishing touches on a dream home. What makes these new homes so special is that they are an astounding value, attractive, well planned and in one of New England’s most desirable locations. It is rare to find affordable new construction so perfectly situated near the beach, mountains, snowmobile trails and year-round attractions of the Lakes Region.

Weirs Beach Village is a community for all reasons and a location for all seasons. Designed for carefree year-round living, these new homes are stylish, efficient and well constructed. Homes boast 9-foot ceilings, abundant windows allowing for natural light and a four-season room that embraces the natural beauty of the setting. Most of the layouts offer single floor living, spacious entertaining spaces, an optional loft area and garage. The interior of the individual homes is open concept with spacious kitchens perfect for entertaining family and friends. With a brand new home, buyers may choose the finishing touches, appliances, cabinetry and flooring to ensure the space fits their needs and lifestyle. Homes have the added benefit of city water and sewer ensuring less worry for homeowners that want to spend part of the year in a warmer climate.

The enchanting neighborhood and the beautiful natural surroundings welcome visitors. The landscaping enhances the natural beauty and invites you make Weirs Beach Village your home.

There is no need to mow as the Homeowners’ Association cares for the mowing of the common space and all yards. For those that like to garden, each home has a yard for flowerbeds to give the property an individual personality. The community is canine friendly so Fido is welcome.

The new energy efficient homes at Weirs Beach Village are all about lifestyle. The community will include an onsite pool and clubhouse for residents and guests.

Anyone who has ever vacationed near Weirs Beach knows that the Lake Winnipesauke area has been a year-round mecca for sports enthusiasts for over a century. A prized four-season destination, this highly desirable region offers some of the most popular winter sports options in New England with extensive snowmobiling trails out your front door, ice fishing, along with great downhill and cross country skiing at nearby Gunstock.

For those who want to relax, the area offers a wide range of outstanding restaurants, spas and entertainment, most within easy walking or driving distance. The ever-popular outlet shopping centers of Tilton are just a short drive from this new community.

The unique new Weirs Beach Village community offers the charm of living in classic New England style homes in an area well known for its scenic beauty, year-round outdoor fun and cultural attractions at a price that is truly affordable. Designed for owners of all ages, these delightful new homes would work well for empty nesters that may plan to downsized to a condominium in Florida, but also want an affordable home in New England to stay close to family and where they can enjoy the timeless joy of the Weirs Beach region without the hassles of maintenance.

For the younger first-time buyer that desires a carefree home with easy access to the natural recreational pleasures of the Lakes Region, this is a wonderful opportunity to become a homeowner. Record low interest rates make this an excellent time to buy.

This new community is being marketed by The New Homes Division of Prudential Verani Realty and prices start at an amazing $149,900!

Just 90 minutes from Boston and less than an hour from the Merrimack Valley, Weirs Beach Village is an opportunity that is not to be missed.

Please come and enjoy the pleasures of the season in the Lakes Region, and see the delightful new homes first-hand. It is the perfect opportunity to become reacquainted with The Lakes Region and to visit the splendid shopping district and nearby outlets for shopping or enjoy skiing at nearby Gunstock.

For those that cannot attend today, the model is open every Friday thru Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. For details, directions or a private showing, please contact Weirs Beach Sales Manager Bonnie Gravel at Prudential Verani Realty, direct at 603-566-9599, or via e-mail at
bonnie.gravel@verani.com or contact the New Homes Sales and Marketing Manager at Prudential Verani Realty, Gail Nickerson at 603-845-2129 or gail.nickerson@verani.com, or visit weirsbeachvillage.com. " ~ Written by Linda Greenstein

The Village Center Groundbreaking !!

2011-11-08T17:05:00.000-08:00

Don't take my word for it !

2011-10-12T14:54:00.000-07:00

How in the world have five months elapsed since I last wrote a blog post ? As I scratch my head in confusion and look back at the last one hundred and forty-five days I am filled with so many pleasant memories. Playing with grandbabies, visiting with family and friends, celebrating the summer sun AND building homes at Weirs Beach Village. We now have eighteen homes built in Phase I. Eleven families have purchased a home and four more homes are under agreement.

One recent summer evening we leisurely strolled through Weirs Beach Village, just soaking up the positive energy which surrounded us. I couldn't stop smiling as I watched the hustle and bustle all around. One family was simply chilling on their deck, beach towels draped over the rails. After all, it is only a 1/4 mile walk to the beach. Another woman told me her grandsons had walked down to the Boardwalk to play the arcade games. The fact that there are sidewalks throughout Weirs Beach Village all the way down to the beach and throughout the Boardwalk section makes for safe walking and great exercising ! Grills were fired up and the sizzle of burgers cooking made me hungry. Flowers were blooming and we admired the unique landscaping at each home. I stopped and reflected on how far this Village has come in a relatively short amount of time.

We are a family oriented business which has a vision. We truly are building more than houses. We are building a community of high quality, highly affordable year round homes where families can relax and escape from the crazy busy of everyday life. We believe in treating people with respect and honesty. We are not afraid of hard work and we stand behind each and every home.

But why should you believe me ? After all, I am closely connected to the project and the builder/developer. Words are cheap and can be easily manipulated. I can assure you that I am an honest writer who stands behind each word but I don't want you to just take my word for it. I have collected testimonials from a few of the homeowners at Weirs Beach Village. These are true and honest testimonials. I have not doctored them in any way. I ask that you read them with an open heart and open eyes. You'll see that I speak the truth when I write that Weirs Beach Village is a community that is built on a foundation of hard work, respect and honesty.

' We immediately fell in love with the style and design of the homes. Once we had the chance to view the models, interior layout and quality workmanship we were convinced that this would be a great investment and location for a second home. The location was the deal maker for us. We are so happy that we can easily walk to lake attractions, restaurants and entertainment that makes the Lakes Region so much fun. When we're here we take daily walks, bike rides or jogs from our home and we never have to get in our car. We can't wait to see the development grow, meet new neighbors, and enjoy the addition of the pool and clubhouse. Many thanks to Bonnie, Skip and Jeff for making this new chapter in our life an enjoyable experience.'
                                                                                  ~ Peter and Rhonda

' Buying a home at Weirs Beach Village was an enjoyable and exciting experience. It was a pleasure to work with our Realtor, Janis Cashman, and everyone else at WBV who helped make our home a reality. We cannot say enough about how friendly the entire staff was and continue to be.
   We absolutely love our summer home. As a family with two young children, Weirs Beach Village has been a wonderful getaway from city life. The neighborhood is serene, beautiful, and we are surrounded by great neighbors. It is a great gift we have been fortunate enough to give to our children. We know the memories we have made and will continue to make will last a lifetime.

                                                                            ~ Mark and Bonnie

' This amazing development has brought four generations of my family closer than ever !! Nothing better than a family gathering where your guests range from 9 to 93 ! Now we have endless NH fun just steps away and this beautiful tranquil neighborhood to enjoy with our family and friends all year long. Even our beloved four-legged family member, 'Rascal', gets in on the fun. No matter who's coming up for a visit, he always manages to score himself an invite ! He just loves walking around WBV meeting all the friendly neighbors and contractors.

Now that winter is right around the corner, we're looking forward to getting into some cold weather activities so if there are any winter lovers out there, please pop by to say "hello". We love meeting our neighbors !
~ Rascal and his family

Here's "Inspector Rascal" checking out the Phase II paving job.
' We love living at Weirs Beach Village. Living here is easy. Our home is comfortable and relaxing. We have great neighbors and friends. The area has something for everyone in the family, where we can enjoy all NH has to offer. We look forward to the time we spend at our home at Weirs Beach Village.

~ The K Family

' It is said you create your own happiness. True, but you may need others to help. I was searching for a 'retreat' home that would be peaceful, affordable, well-built, a place to escape to. Weirs Beach Village is all this and more. Everyone involved with the building of my home, starting with the Realtor, Janis Cashman, has always greeted me with a smile. They answered my questions promptly, did everything to make me happy...they cared about me. They collectively made sure the job was well-done. I am very happy when I walk inside my "retreat"...I look around, smile and know I made a great decision. Thanks WBV for your help at giving me happiness...and Jeff, keep on smiling.

~ Another Happy WBV Homeowner

There you have it. Testimonials written by just a few of our WBV homeowners.
And we will keep on smiling.

A Lifestyle for All Seasons...

2011-05-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

It was a long winter. Snow, ice, cold. Snow, ice, freezing. More Snow, more ice and really cold temperatures. Many human beings go into hibernation mode during the winter months. They run from their car to their work place, they call out for pizza delivery, they huddle together to keep warm. The Weirs Beach Village team does not hibernate. We built homes in the middle of the winter. Our workers wore storm gear as they protected themselves against the elements. We bought them hot cocoa to warm their insides. We plowed. We sanded. We shoveled. Our Realtors wore their long underwear as they gave tours of our Model homes to the brave souls who ventured out. Our homeowners at WBV played in the snow...skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. They also spent time shopping at the area outlet malls, visiting Lake Opechee Inn and Spa for a hot stone massage and at the end of the day they curled up in front of their gas fireplaces, warm and toasty, reading a good book or chatting about the next snowstorm.

And while we all dealt with the winter weather in our own ways, secretly we were all waiting. Waiting for the day when Ice-Out would be called on Lake Winnipesaukee ~ and the M/S Mount Washington could make its way around the Lake, stopping at all of its various docks. The Lake will come alive with boats. Fisherman will try to catch the one that got away...again. Motorcycles will get polished and revved up. Meadowbrook will announce their summer concert line-ups. The games at Funspot are polished and ready for our quarters. The beaches are waiting for people to mark their territory with beach towels and blankets. Who will be the first brave soul to jump into the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee this year ?

And what happens at Weirs Beach Village when the seasons change and the warm breezes of Spring arrive ? We had a massive Spring cleaning day at the site. We filled dumpsters, we hired a street sweeper to clean Memory Lane and Tranquilty Turn. We crushed boulders and prepared the road for Phase II which we hope to complete this Fall. We are working on our Community Center plans so we can begin construction soon. The Weirs Beach Village Homeowner's Association will have a place for meetings, dances and Bingo games. We hired a landscaping crew to weed, plant and mulch the gardens.

Signs of Spring !

Spring Clean Up !

The Wolfeboro ! Love the daisies !

And of course, we continue to build homes. We currently have five homes under construction...a Gilford, two Center Harbors, a Meredith and our newest model ~ the Tuftonboro. The Tuftonboro features a large first floor master bedroom and a full bath. The second floor has a spacious bedroom and a bonus room with a full bathroom. Sounds like the perfect party house to me ! It is our goal to finsh Phase I by the time the leaves turn color. It is also our goal to build you an affordable, high quality home in our community. We pride ourselves on the fact that we are not just building a housing development. We are building a community based on trust and respect. It is the foundation of our business and the key to our success. We hope to see you up at Weirs Beach Village this Spring...and you'll quickly understand why no matter the season, no matter the weather, you'll truly feel at home at Weirs Beach Village !

Wishing your much tranquilty and many happy memories !

Some serious machines...we mean business !

One of our new Models !

Homes for all ages !

Fred Flintstone would have loved these rocks !

Lots of hustle and bustle at WBV !

King of the Mountain !

Decisions, decisions !

2011-01-25T13:46:00.000-08:00

Making the decision to buy a home is humongous ! So many decisions to make...where to buy, when to buy, what to buy. There are so many levels of decisions. It is interesting to watch customers go through the process. Everyone handles stress in a variety of ways. Some people are calm and logical as they proceed to make one of the biggest decisions of their life. Some people turn gray, chew their nails and pace. Others seem almost joyful, excited and happy as they go through the process. One of our goals at Weirs Beach Village is to insure that our customers have a relatively stress-free home buying experience.

Once you have made the decision to buy a home at Weirs Beach Village your stress level is greatly reduced. Our team of professionals are prepared to walk you through the entire process from choosing a lot, a home design, home color, flooring, appliances, fixtures, financing and all of the other decisions that must be made. Having a professional by your side makes the process that much easier. You will also be reminded to take a deep breath and smile.

Having made the decision to build your dream home at Weirs Beach Village was one of the smartest decisions you could have made. You will next have to decide which lot your dream home will sit upon. At this writing Phase I is close to being 50% sold out. We anticipate moving into Phase II by the Fall of 2011. The views from so many of these lots are phenomenal as you look out at the Ossipee Mountains, Gunstock and Paugus Bay. As you look out over the mountains you are reminded how small we humans are and how important it is to take the time to enjoy the view.

All of our homes are stick-built by professional builders. Once you decide which model best fits your needs, construction can begin. Are you going to have lots of visitors? Do you need lots of space for entertaining? Is this a cozy hideaway where you will escape to and no one will be able to find you?
Is this a home where you envision warm family memories being created as you all gather around in front of your fireplace after a day of skiing at Gunstock? Do you dream about relaxing on your deck with your favorite beverage in hand, soaking up the sun and cherishing your quiet alone time ? You know which home best suits your needs.

Maybe the 'Center Harbor' with its spacious layout and loft area best meets your needs ? With its open concept, entertaining would truly be a breeze. The following pictures of the 'Center Harbor' give you an idea of what it has to offer you ~

The 'Meredith' is a single floor home with two bedrooms and large open area between the kitchen, living room and sunroom. Just imagine how your furniture would look in this home ~

The first home we sold at Weirs Beach Village was the 'Gilford'. A comfortable single floor home it invites you to come right in and sit right down. Glance at the following photos and you'll understand why it soon had a SOLD sign on the lawn.

So it is my hope that this photo tour will make your decision making process just a wee bit easier. Come up to Weirs Beach Village soon, meet with our Real Estate Professionals and make a decision about which one will be your...

Surround Yourself With Good People Who Are Only Going to Lift You Higher

2010-11-05T05:37:00.000-07:00

From the beginning of this project we have used a team approach for getting the work done. We are well aware that there is no "I" in team and we believe in the power of synergy. We have surrounded ourselves with motivated people who have similar goals and beliefs. Positive attitude, self motivating and hard working are just a few of the qualities we demand from our team members. Bonnie Gravel brings all of those qualities, and so much more, to our team. A Realtor with Prudential Verani, Bonnie and her team came on board with Weirs Beach Village one year ago. Bonnie understands and respects our needs and our goals. She is not afraid to get her hands or feet dirty. She can be found giving tours of the model homes, vacuuming occasional dust bunnies, shoveling snow, and was recently seen serving apple crisp at our ribbon cutting ceremony. But working with our customers is Bonnie's true calling. She is honest, direct, and a straight shooter with a sense of humor that can soften the most difficult discussion.

I decided I wanted to interview Bonnie so that people can truly understand the caliber of people working on the Weirs Beach Village team. It was challenging to pin Bonnie down long enough to ask her a few questions. Did I mention that Bonnie is very active with an exhausting energy level ? I tried to keep up with her to ask her a few questions and needed a nap at the end of that day.

1. How long have you been involved with the world of real estate ? How did you get started in RE and why ? Almost 20 years and I love it!! I was going to college to work with people in Cardiac Rehab while bringing up two young children and managing in a health club and teaching aerobics. I met a wonderful couple, Chris and Bill Dowd, that use to take all of my exercise classes. One day Chris, who was a Real Estate Trainer, asked me if I ever thought of getting into real estate and that a realtor in her office needed a high energy assistant to help him with customers. I accepted. I did finish and graduated from college, with my husband and two children cheering me on. I did however become very busy in real estate and it is history from there. I do feel like I help make peoples' hearts happy especially when they receive the key to their new home or they have sold a home and moved on to the next stage of their life. It is pretty cool and most of the time brings tears to my eyes.

2. What jobs did you have before you became a realtor ? Oh my...that is a long list, so here you go.

Like most girls...babysitting first. At 15 I use to take a bus to a lawyer's home and worked as a paralegal.

At 16 when I got my license I worked for three lawyers, and had a job at 'Grover Cronins' in Waltham as a shoe salesgirl. At 17 I worked as an administrator for a Dynamics Company. After graduation, I worked for Digital equipment as a dispatcher. This is where I met the love of my life. I then became a computer technician for Digital for a couple of years then had our beautiful children.

My favorite job was motherhood but while I was doing that I worked at Shaw's a couple of evenings a week and Sundays. I also sold Princess House Crystal at home parties to help with household bills.

Then as mentioned I went back to college, managed and taught aerobics in a health club while the kids were in school. Then real estate......

3. Any pets ? Tell us about them. I have had pets my whole life and can't image life without them. My mom said we had a cat that use to sleep in the crib with me when I was a baby and that is true today. Actually when I met my husband..I said to him if you do not like animals then it won't work. He is still here and we have our 12 year old rat terrier Ginger who sleeps with us every night...which I know can be a pain.

4. What makes a successful realtor ? Compassion, understanding, listening and understanding the needs of your seller and buyers... not what you think they need. Mostly be a true Professional.

5. Tell us about the Prudential Verani team ~ how is your team different from other real estate teams ? I feel Prudential Verani as a whole company is a family with great values and commitment to their customers and to their employees and agents. Our New Homes Division is top notch with more support that I have ever had in any real estate company I have worked. The team at Weirs Beach Village ~ Janis, Gene, Pete and Kristin ~ are very experienced agents that are very excited about the community and love the homes.

6. What are you feelings about WBV ? I love the whole concept that the developer/builder has created. The sense of community is astounding and is what the buyers are feeling and what they like. Personally, I am so happy after selling new construction for over 15 years, and my gained knowledge from that has now allowed me to be picky in choosing where I want to sell and who I want to sell for. I am blessed that it has brought me here to WBV.

7. What do you do in your spare time ? Spare time...what is that in real estate? But when I do have spare time..I love hanging with my family and good friends.

8. Any words of advice to people looking to buy or sell their homes ? Find the right realtor!!!!

9. You have a very optimistic outlook ~ how do you stay so positive ? I believe a person is happy if they believe they are happy and that shines through in how others see you too.

I had a few more questions for Bonnie but she was off and running to her next appointment. We are fortunate to have her on our team and hopefully you will have the opportunity to sit down and talk with Bonnie or any of the Prudential Verani team about your dream home at Weirs Beach Village. They are only a phone call away from making your dream become a reality. All you have to do is dial 603-434-2377 ~ it is that easy !

Celebrations and Congratulations and Big Changes !

2010-09-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

As many of you may know, we had been waiting for many months for final approval from the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office. It was impatient, toe tapping waiting. But one bright and sunny Wednesday morning we received the call we had been waiting for from our attorney ~ Weirs Beach Village is officially a Homeowners' Association ! We didn't even know what to do first. Crack open the champagne ? Hug and kiss ? Pinch ourselves ? Call everyone ? Send out emails ? It was rather chaotic in the office for awhile but then the news sank in and we realized what needed to be done ~ organize the troops and start building more houses ! There was no time for dancing with wild abandon and singing from the roof tops. There was work to be done.

So the dust has settled and the work has begun. Non-binding agreements are being rewritten as purchase and sales agreements. Work has begun on new houses. Foundations are poured, framing continues, and Phase 1 will soon be all sold out. Furniture is being moved out of models as closings begin and customers move into their homes. We love thinking about the models being transformed into homes for families. Homes where so many memories will be made.

And my work continues. To keep spreading the good news...Weirs Beach Village is a Homeowners' Association...officially. Let the celebrations begin !

And then there were Eleven !

2010-07-08T09:09:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that two months have passed since our last blog post. How could that be? What is going on here? What is happening at Weirs Beach Village?

As was written in an earlier post, we are going through the process of changing from a condominium association to a Homeowners' Association. We are still waiting for the NH Attorney General's office to give us final approval. Can you hear our toes tapping and the impatience with which I type ? At this point we are allowed to take non-binding agreements on the homes. We currently have eleven non-binding purchase and sales agreements. We should be hearing any day now from the Attorney General and when that happens, closings will occur and people will be moving into their new homes, excited to begin this new chapter of their lives.

Six homes are completed and construction has begun on four more homes. The heavy equipment has been digging foundations and moving dirt around ~ even during this heat wave. Phase I will be half complete once these homes are finished. The excitement among our Realtors, our Project Manager, customers and all of us behind the scenes is mounting. We have a vision and to see it becoming reality is cause for celebration.

We are working on designing our permanent signage, taking care of a multitude of details, and completing reams of paperwork. So much goes on behind the scenes when building a project of this size. We pay attention to the small stuff because as we all know ~ the small stuff is the important stuff. So just because you don't SEE things happening at the project, be assured that we are working hard on our project on a daily basis, 24-7, with many sleepless nights, and countless long days. We are dedicated to our customers and to our vision. And we welcome you to call our Realtors today at 603-434-2377 to make an appointment and come see for yourself what is happening at Weirs Beach Village.

Spring has arrived at Weirs Beach Village !

2010-05-05T07:39:00.000-07:00

The Lakes Region comes alive in Spring. The snow has melted with only the tops of the mountains still glistening in the sunlight. The Rites of Passage for Laconia real estate is evident as all the seasonal activities begin. Boaters take their boats and remove the shrink wrap as they take them from storage and prepare them for the cold waters as they dip in for their first voyage around Lake Winnipesaukee to explore their hidden coves. Summer residents return to their cottages; homes and condominiums do their spring clean up and get ready for their visitors or their tenants. Gunstock Mountain puts away their ski groomers for next year's season and hopes for early snow. The concert series that have been scheduled throughout the winter at Meadowbrook and include Sheryl Crow; Heart; Suglarland and Reba MacIntire are released and ticket sales begin.Beaches are raked and cleaned in advance of the throngs of bikinis; beach towels and chairs that will fill each inch. Hiking trails in the area state parks are cleared of fallen limbs and brush that are remnants of the cold and snowy winter. The Town of Laconia prepares for its 87th annual Laconia Motorcycle Week for June 12 through the 20th and the daily activities and its hungry visitors. Neighboring Tanger Outlets welcome more shoppers as the Spring into Summer season opens up and more bargains abound.

Walking distance to Weirs Beach is a welcoming community of homes that offer quality and affordability at one address. Weirs Beach Village offers a neighborhood of quality built homes with hardiplank cement board siding; interior trim packages that would be considered upgrades anywhere and a selection of high quality stick built homes. No need to worry when you lock your door as all homes are connected to the Fire Department. A custom look with a great price with homes beginning from the $130's. Some home sites offer views of the lake and all are sited carefully to afford more privacy and the community has a planned clubhouse and small pool. These are four season homes in a four seasons community! Weirs Beach is a perfect distance from Boston and points north with about a 1 1/2 hour drive. Give yourself a break and slow down in a great location to enjoy the Lakes Region.

Dual Broker Open House ~ April 21 !

2010-04-20T06:36:00.000-07:00

The Necessity of Change

2010-04-17T03:45:00.000-07:00

In the beginning, Weirs Beach Village was originally structured as a development which would consist of 85 detached condominiums on leased land. The City of Laconia gave us the green light. We built four models ~ the Gilford, the Wolfeboro, the Meredith, and the Alton. People were curious. We landscaped, we paved, we began our marketing strategy. People became interested. We signed contracts, we courted a variety of financial institutions. We waited.

All around us, the economic climate was shifting dramatically. The government was responding by demanding strict changes in banking and lending institutions guidelines. The new Fannie Mae guidelines put severe restrictions on condominium financing. We watched and wondered what this meant for our project.

"Your success in life isn't based on your ability to simply change. It is based on your ability to change faster than your competition, customers and business." ~ Mark Sanborn

Skip Kelley, the developer, the brain and the heart of Weirs Beach Village, did what he does best ~ he problem solved. He investigated. He calculated. He knew there had to be a change at the project. He figured out what that change had to be and he then made that change. And that is why he has been so successful in the NH Real Estate scene for the past 25 + years.

So we have made the decision to abandon the condominium concept. Weirs Beach Village is becoming a Homeowners' Association. We have begun the process of making the necessary legal changes through the NH Attorney General's Office and have been given permission to accept non-binding purchase and sales agreements. We expect to have all final approvals in place within the next 45 days.

The change was necessary. And the people are excited. All six of the homes which we have built are under agreement (non-binding). Prudential-Verani have had to add more hours and more staff up at the project to handle the calls and visits from customers. But there are some aspects which have not changed and will not change ~ we are still building high quality, affordable houses in the Lakes Region. Customer satisfaction is still a priority. It always has been and it always will be ~ some things never change.

Up Close and Personal with Skip Kelley.

2010-03-21T05:29:00.001-07:00

I recently had the opportunity to interview Skip Kelley, the man with the vision and the knowledge to build Weirs Beach Village. It is important for customers to respect and trust the builder of their home. Mr. Kelley is very aware that a home is the biggest investment most people ever make and he keeps that in mind throughout the building process. The following interview will allow one to gain a little insight into the man who has been building homes for nearly thirty years in the Granite State.

Mr. Kelley, have you always been a developer/builder?

I began my work career at Mt Carmel nursing home back in 1974. I was a maintenance man. We maintained the boilers, the emergency generating system, did carpentry repairs, repaired plumbing, minor electrical work, and lots of painting. I continued to work full time there but I enrolled at the New Hampshire Vocational Technical College as a full time student in the industrial electricity program. In 1977 I graduated Summa Cum Laude from college and immediately went to work as an electrician at Disogrin Industries as a maintenance electrician and became a licensed Journeyman Electrician. After a year, I became a Master Electrician.In 1979, I was hired by Sanders Associates as an electrician. Sanders at that time, was the largest employer in the state.

When did you make the leap from electrician to builder?

I had wanted to build homes from a very early age, all the way back to childhood and building tree forts and club houses. I always got great satisfaction from driving nails. I had always loved taking things apart and finding out how they worked. My Dad was an intrepid remodeler himself. Duct tape was his tool of choice. He tackled many handy man jobs around the house and would impress his kids into service.

My wife and I were married in 1978 and bought the first of many apartment buildings. We jumped in with both feet and created an additional apartment that we subsequently occupied. We had the first of our four children in 1979.
I bought more apartments and continued working many nights and weekends while our family grew. In 1984 we bought a 5 acre parcel of land in Deerfield, NH. It was then that I actually built my first new construction from start to finish. I decided a career in real estate/construction would become my full time occupation. I continued buying apartments and single family homes which we would remodel and resell.

In 1989 just as the market was entering its last big downslide, I decided to do more new construction. This may seem counter intuitive given the economic climate, however, I reasoned that if I could build homes profitably in that market, I would thrive when things got better. Although I took my share of lumps throughout that time I proved the old adage was true, "If it doesn't kill you it makes you stronger".

We emerged from the down cycle far stronger than before. We have since owned somewhere around 400 - 500 apartments and condominiums. We have bought, remodeled and sold somewhere around 80-100 single family homes. We have developed land all over southern NH. We have built new homes in Bedford, Auburn, Deerfield, Manchester, Hooksett, Bow, Londonderry, Candia, Raymond, Pembroke, Allenstown, Goffstown, Weare, Sanbornton, Laconia. I would estimate I have built somewhere between 100-150 homes. I have built roads and developed several subdivisions in Manchester, Weare, Candia, Deerfield and now Laconia.

What attracted you to Weirs Beach ?

We see Weirs Beach Village as a unique opportunity. The location is outstanding with the proximity to Lake Winnipesaukee and all it has to offer. The units themselves are built of high quality and cutting edge materials. They are being built with an eye to traditional architectural elements such as high pitched roofs, wide corner boards, water tables and traditional looking clapboard siding. The intention was not so much that we were competing with others but rather leading the way with a concept in housing which combines the best of the old with the best of the new. We are proud of the fact that we are building high quality homes that are affordable and energy efficient. We are creating a community of homes which will provide years of enjoyment to the owners and adds a new dimension to Weirs Beach.

So what do you do when you are not working at Weirs Beach Village ? Any hobbies or other interests?

I am a collector of sorts. I have collected many old signs and advertising pieces from many of the properties we have bought and sold. My wife and I have an extensive collection of antique penny banks including both mechanical and still banks.
I love to spend time with my metal detectors exploring old cellar holes and other old sites. Being in real estate has afforded me many opportunities to find coins and relics from bygone eras.
My latest hobby is stone wall building. For the last three years I have been building a stone wall in front of our home. The stone wall has gone from being a project to a hobby. It has been the site of many conversations with passersby! The size of this wall is so large that I began looking at other sources for the rock in it. I began with other properties which I own, then began searching my friends and neighbors properties for appropriate material. I estimate that I have brought some 10-15 pickup loads of rock from Weirs Beach Village and incorporated them into my wall. I have a rock, with fossils in it from Florida, a rock from PEI and a rock from India!
My wife and I are also are now grandparents of two twin boys and one granddaughter. I am looking forward to building them their first tree house someday soon.

Walk This Way

2010-02-17T07:11:00.000-08:00

I had the good fortune to be up at Weirs Beach Village on a recent February afternoon. The air was brisk, reminding me that I was alive. It was the perfect day to take a two mile walk through Weirs Beach and I decided to share my pictures from that afternoon with you. So much to see and do ~ all within walking distance from the homes at Weirs Beach Village. Step outside onto the deck at the 'Center Harbor' model.
We are going to take a right onto Endicott Street. There are sidewalks throughout our walk so no worries about being hit by passing vehicles.

Are you a music lover and enjoy an outdoor concert? Then the Meadowbrook Musical Arts Center is the place for you - and it is only 4 miles away ! Go to their site at www.meadowbrook.net and check out the 2010 calendar. Reba will be there on August 21 and you just might see me there !

Who doesn't enjoy going to see a play? 'The Laramie Project' is currently playing. There are shows year round at the Playhouse so when you are living at Weirs Beach Village and wondering what to do in the winter, you will have many choices.

As we continue our walk down Endicott Street we pass 'The Lobster Pound' ~ nice to know there are several restaurants within walking distance from your front door. Brunch at 'The Lobster Pound' starts at 10:00 AM ~ leave some pancakes for me !

Need to get your boat serviced ? You can walk right down to Thurston's Marina and have all of your boating questions answered.

If it was in the middle of summer we would have reached our destination possibly - the beach ! It is just down the hill from your home in Weirs Beach so you don't have to worry about finding a parking spot - just grab a towel, walk down and jump in !

Here is a view of the beach from a distance. Love that gazebo ! Bring a picnic lunch and make a day off it !

Another restaurant within walking distance. Just think, you can even have dessert since you will be walking off those extra calories when you head home !

This is the historic landmark sign letting you know where you are ~ when I see this sign lit up at night I feel like I have gone back in time ~ to a place where life was simpler and less complex. That's what Weirs Beach Village is all about.

Just one of the majestic views which I saw during my walk. Truly breathtaking.

Now we are walking down Scenic Ave. ~ in the summer you can't find a parking space on this street so it is a good thing that you can walk right on down here from your home at Weirs Beach Village. The winter time is quieter and allows one to reflect as they wander through the streets of Weirs Beach.

Tired of walking ? Jump aboard for a scenic ride around the lake.

Trains aren't your thing ? How about a dinner cruise on the Mt. Washington ? How lucky you are to have choices !

The emphasis here is on FUN ! Arcades, food... just chillin' on the boardwalk. Oh, the memories your family will create and keep...forever.

I am the queen of the bumper cars. I can't wait until they open for business in May ! I'm the one in the red car ~ watch out !

I really wish this stand was open for business as I walked by...peppermint stick ice cream in a sugar cone, please.

The Tower Hill Tavern is hopping in the summer ~ usually it is standing room only. Notice the small print - fried dough. Life is good.

And now the part of the walk which will allow us to break into a sweat - up Tower Hill. Ready ? I will race you to the top!

At the top of Tower Hill, take a left, cross the street and we are back at Weirs Beach Village.

Hope you enjoyed our virtual walk together. There is so much to do at Weirs Beach and if you live here, it is all within walking distance. It doesn't get much better than that. See you at the bumper cars !

Neither rain, nor snow...

2010-01-08T18:50:00.000-08:00

nor ice, nor wind, can stop the construction at Weirs Beach Village. We are currently building two more homes for customers. So while the tourist traffic up at Weirs Beach has slowed down we haven't slowed down at all. Our schedule has been intense while dealing with Mother Nature. Framers, roofers and sheet rockers can be found on site working under the watchful eye of Project Manager, Jeff Kelley. Our realty team, Prudential Verani, hosted successful Open Houses throughout the holiday season and are now working on creative marketing strategies for the upcoming months. So at a time of year when many people go into hibernation mode, all of us connected with Weirs Beach Village are dressing in layers, shoveling snow and waiting to greet all visitors to the project. So if you are looking for something to do during these long winter days come on up to Weirs Beach Village and see for yourself the changes that are taking place during the months of winter. And feel free to bring Jeff a cup of hot cocoa ! He'd appreciate it.

You are invited...

2009-12-02T05:40:00.001-08:00

New paint, new signage, new team, new energy...come see for yourself ! Food, raffles, holiday spirit...come be a part of the celebration !

There is no " i " in team.

2009-11-17T09:54:00.001-08:00

I love basketball and was recently cheering on my favorite team ~ the Boston Celtics. I become quite passionate and involved as I watch the games especially if it is a nail biter. During a game this past weekend I yelled at the TV screen, "Pass the ball, there is a man under the basket...he is waiting for you to pass it to him. DO NOT GO FOR THE THREE. A man is open. Play as a team ~ basketball is a team sport."

Through the years I have been a part of many teams and the ones which have been most successful and enjoyable are the teams which are organized, well-managed, and with open lines of communications. Effective teams have members who work together creating positive synergy. The focus is on getting the job done, not on individual glory.

The Weirs Beach Village team has the energy, enthusiasm and skills that will allow us to reach our goals. When we have our team meetings led by our leader, Realtor Bonnie Gravel from Prudential Verani, creative ideas and 'out of the box' thinking bounces off the walls of the conference room. We believe in this project ~ we always have and we always will ~ and the plans going forward are cutting edge. We all have our roles on our team but at the same time none of us are afraid to pitch in and do what needs to be done. At any time you might see the developer of the project mowing lawns or the realtor moving furniture. Our philosophy is get the job done effectively. We have high standards for the entire project and for each individual home. Our team has a strong foundation built with respect, honesty and strong work ethics. We are a team of like minded, hard working people who have a vision. We invite you to come to Weirs Beach Village in the near future and witness for yourself the power of our team. Call Bonnie today at 603-845-2232 or email her at bonnie.gravel@verani.com with any questions or comments you might have about Weirs Beach Village.

And when you come up to visit us ~ wear your green, mention that you are a Celtics fan and you will feel the magic of our team. Go Weirs Beach Village !!

And the Winners are...

2009-10-31T06:41:00.000-07:00

Over the past few months we have hosted a series of Open Houses at the project. In August we set up the big tent, cooked up burgers and hot dogs and visited with over 100 people as they toured the four models. In October we held a Neighbor Helping Neighbor Food Drive in which we urged visitors to our project to bring canned goods for the Laconia Food Bank. We hung up balloons, held raffles and showed the pride we have in our project. And now it is time to announce the winners of the raffles. Winning two tickets for a scenic cruise on the Lake Winnipesaukee Mailboat is Stephen Littlehale and the winner of the $100.00 Gift Certificate on the Mt. Washington Dinner/Dance Cruise is N. Gary Aldrich. Congratulations and enjoy.

Of course, on reflection I realized that there are other winners connected with this project. Weirs Beach Village has provided work for many in the Laconia area during some rough economic times. Framers, painters, drywallers, electricians, plumbers and a variety of other construction related professions have had work over the past year because of our project. The Laconia Food Bank will be a beneficiary when we arrive with our canned food donations. It will hopefully help a few families in the Laconia area through some bleak times. The caterer who was hired for one of the Open Houses was a winner as they had a chance to not only to earn money but to also get their name out in the community. The Mt. Washington Cruiselines is a winner and a wonderful neighbor - we sent them some business and they have welcomed us to the neighborhood. Their employees have come to our Open Houses and have been very kind and supportive. We bought furniture from local businesses to stage the homes trying to support the local economy. I feel strongly that the community of Weirs Beach is a winner because of our project. We have a vision which is becoming reality - to create a community of high quality, affordable homes. We are responsible, hard working and we stand behind our product.

And there is another winner in all of this and that is our family. My husband and I have been married for 31 years and working on this project together has made the bonds between us even stronger. I am reminded of the saying 'that which does not kills us only makes us stronger.' I often describe myself as a little bulldog. I just put my head down and bash on regardless...and please do not tell me it can not be done. Did I mention I am a Taurus? This project will be successful. Our son came on board and joined us as Project Manager in July. He left a very lucrative position because he believes in our vision. He has a college degree in construction management so while we bring the street smarts to the table he brings the book smarts - a winning combination. Our three other children, while not directly working with us, are supportive in so many ways. They come to our Open Houses and give tours of the models, they offer constructive criticism and give us hugs when we need them most. Our daughter-in-law helped me stage the project and her sense of fashion and color was invaluable plus we got to shop until we dropped. So as a family we have risen to the occasion and done what families do ~ we have supported each other and worked together to get the job done. I am very proud of all of us and the work we have accomplished on this project. We are a winning team.

And lastly, a true winner is the consumer who sees the value in these homes. I have witnessed the quality, time and thoughtfulness which has gone into building each home and the Weirs Beach Village community. We are building homes where you can live and relax year round in a vacation setting knowing that your home was built by people who care.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

2009-10-04T06:40:00.000-07:00

In every profession, in every job, there are dedicated, motivated workers who truly care and then there are the disinterested, just working for the paycheck, disgruntled workers. We have all experienced it. There are the dedicated doctors who truly care about their patients, who go the extra mile and then the disinterested doctors who just care about pushing pills. There are lazy store clerks who roll their eyes at you if you ask them a question and then there are the motivated, personable store clerks who really enjoy their jobs and try to help the customer. There is the honest automobile mechanic who takes the time to explain to me what my car's catalytic converter does and why I need a new one. Then there is the automobile mechanic who was only supposed to check the air in my tires and at the end handed me a bill for over five hundred dollars. There are educators who arrive at their classroom at the crack of dawn, who create creative lesson plans which meet the needs of their students and then there are educators who use the same lesson plans every year for every child.

And then there are developers and home builders. There are home builders who cut corners, who don't focus on those small but important details, who look for the cheapest way to get the job done, who are willing to sacrifice quality for the sake of time and money. Then there are developers and home builders who review the process, the materials, the installation. They truly care about so much more than the bottom line ~ they care about the customer. They realize that this is possibly the biggest investment that the customer might ever make and they are very sensitive to that. They realize they are building more than just a structure, they are building homes where people will cherish their time and create memories. These developers realize that the satisfied customer is their best form of advertising. And we, the developers and builders of the Cottages at Weirs Beach Village are dedicated to leading the way in superior home building. Our mission statement centers around the customer and building true value and high quality into every home. Conscientious, proud, responsible, dedicated, experienced are all words which are used to describe the developers of the Cottages at Weirs Beach Village.

Under our business model, success is measured by the number of people we help to get what they want. We believe that part of our responsibility is to be a contributing member of our community. To that end we are hosting an Open House/ Food Drive over Columbus Day Weekend, October 10, 11, 12 ,which will help our neighbors in Laconia. For each canned good that a guest to our Open House brings with them, their name will be entered into a raffle drawing to win a $100.00 gift certificate on the Mt. Washington Cruise Line. All canned goods will be donated to the Community Action Program in Laconia, NH.

So pack up your canned goods and head on over to the Cottages at Weirs Beach Village. Have a cup of cider, take a tour of the four model homes and see for yourself the community that is being created.

In the beginning...

2009-09-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

It is the last day of summer and I am sitting up at 'The Cottages' soaking up every last ray of summer sun. It has been a hectic summer up here at the Weirs and it is important for us to sit back and reflect on all that has been accomplished. As I look around at our newly paved roads, the new road signs and lamp posts, and the newly planted blueberry bushes and mums, I allow my mind to wander back in time...way back in time and try to imagine what this land used to look like in the beginning.

The Native American name Winnipesaukee means either "smile of the Great Spirit" or "beautiful water in a high place." At the outlet of the Winnipesaukee River, the Winnipesaukee Indians, a subtribe of the Pennacook, lived and fished at a village called Acquadocton. Today, the site is called The Weirs, named for the weirs that colonists discovered when first exploring the region. Fishing weirs were stone structures designed by Native Americans to help them catch fish. So it should not have been a huge surprise to any of us last summer when unusual pieces of 'stone' were discovered on site. Archaeologists were called in to perform a thorough search of the area. We all became familiar with the term 'Munsungun Chert' which was a stone used by Paleo-Indians to create hand struck tools. Munsungun Chert would indeed be a rare find since the Paleo -Indians used the tools they created to hunt Mastodons! Just imagine! We all held our breath while the unidentified stone was sent off to labs to be formally identified. The historian in all of us was in awe of the idea that Paleo-Indians and Mastodons once walked this ground. The business side of us wondered anxiously what a finding of Munsungun Chert would do to our project. The results came back ~ and the stone was identified as red jasper which was used more commonly by Native Americans to create tools by hand. The project moved forward but I believe that we all look at the site through new lens as we think of the people who inhabited these lands hundreds of years before us.

Here is the red jasper which was found on the site:

Eventually the land was transformed into the Weirs Beach Tent and Trailer Park. There were 180 sites on which people could pitch a tent or bring in their campers for the season. Being within walking distance to the Weirs Beach Boulevard, the Beach, the arcades and many other area attractions made this a prime camping location for many families through the years. Many wonderful memories were created and we have had more than a few visitors to 'The Cottages at Weirs Beach Village' who had spent many summer vacations on this site and just wanted to stop in to share a memory or two with us.

And on October 16, 2007 this land changed hands once again. For the past two years, work has been diligent and constant to create a community in which people can live comfortably year round in a vacation setting. This is not just another development. This is a community built with pride and respect for the land and the history surrounding it. We encourage you to stop in and take a tour of 'The Cottages at Weirs Beach Village.' And while you are there, take a minute to reflect on the footsteps of all who preceded you.

Welcome to the Cottages at Weirs Beach Village

2009-09-04T10:33:00.000-07:00

This blog is currently a work in progress and will be up and running shortly. We appreciate the fact that you stopped in for a visit. Please stop by in the next few days and find out more about the history and future of our project. Upcoming events and many photos will be posted, allowing you to follow our growth on a regular basis from the comfort of your armchair.

The weather for Labor Day Weekend in the Lakes Region is SUNNY so get out of that armchair and come on up to the Cottages and see for yourself what all of the excitement is about. And while you are there, mention that you read this first post on our blog and receive a free token of appreciation!

So pack your sunblock, bring a picnic lunch and head to the Cottages at Weirs Beach !