NOTES · KARYN EMERSON
Honest writing on Southern NH real estate. MA-to-NH relocation math, NH property tax by town, post-August-2024 commission rules, neighborhood deep dives, and a straight answer on Opendoor's $45,000 equity gap.
As of July 1, 2025, New Hampshire's HB 577 lets you build an accessory dwelling unit, attached or detached, by right in any single-family zone, up to 950 square feet. Here is exactly what changed, what your town can and cannot require, and what it means for a Southern NH homeowner.
June 11, 2026
The tax math, the commute reality, the DMV checklist, and which Southern NH town actually fits the life you are trying to build. No sales pitch, just the real numbers.
March 18, 2026
A side-by-side look at mill rates, exemptions, and the annual bill you should expect on a $500K, $750K, or $1M home in the three towns that buyers compare most often.
March 5, 2026
After the NAR settlement, commission rules changed for every buyer and seller in the country. Here is what actually shifted, what the range looks like on a Salem or Windham sale, and what the fee covers on my listings.
February 22, 2026
The emotional piece nobody talks about, the practical piece every agent skips, and the timing decisions that actually matter when you are leaving the house you raised your family in.
February 10, 2026
If this is your first house, and it is in NH, there are five things your MA friends never had to worry about. Septic inspections, well water, the P&S, the NH inspection sticker, and the town-level zoning surprise.
January 28, 2026
Salem is not one place. It is at least four neighborhoods stitched together, and the difference between them is bigger than any out-of-town buyer realizes. Here is the local's map, drawn street by street.
January 15, 2026
The single biggest surprise for MA-to-NH movers who keep commuting to Boston. If you earn your income in Massachusetts, Massachusetts still wants a piece. Here is what that actually costs, and the three legal ways to change the math.
January 2, 2026
The Opendoor offer is fast, clean, and final. It is also, on the Real Estate Witch national average, about $45,000 below what the same home would sell for with an agent. Selling it yourself rarely closes that gap either. Here is the breakdown on a typical Salem colonial.
December 18, 2025
Start the conversation
Pick a 30-minute slot. Bring your situation, and I will bring the straight answers and the local read.
