2024 YEAR IN REVIEW
Seacoast Market Watch
2
Table of Contents
Special thanks to Chief Statistician/Sales Associate John Rice for his significant contribution. Data sourced from PRIME MLS, analyzed by Tate & Foss Sotheby’s International Realty. PRIME MLS does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for its accuracy and the data maintained may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. All reproduction of data requires TFSIR’s written consent.
26
16
24
HAMPTON AREA
DURHAM AREA
12
ELIOT & THE BERWICKS
Most photography featured in this report courtesy of Mike Barron Photography
EXETER AREA
8
OUR TEAM
22
6
WATERFRONT
18
20
T&F HIGHLIGHTS
14
DOVER AREA
SEACOAST LAKES AREA
28
LUXURY
4
NORTHSHORE
HISTORIC & ANTIQUE
SO. YORK COUNTY COAST
10
PORTSMOUTH AREA
FOR 2025
Market Insights
Key Observations
BROWSE ALL MLS LISTING AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MARKET AT LIVESEACOAST.COM SEACOAST MARKET WATCH | 2
Persistently Elevated Interest Rates & Limited Inventory The combination of sustained high interest rates and constrained inventory will continue to create challenges for prospective buyers, limiting affordability and access to housing. Seller’s Market with a Constrained Buyer Pool While market conditions remain favorable for sellers, the buyer pool is expected to shrink. Affordability concerns due to high interest rates will limit the number of qualified purchasers. Ongoing Record Sales Volumes in High-Value Segments We anticipate continued record-breaking monthly sales volumes in the luxury market, driven by a steady rise in the median sales price. Growth likely to occur at a more tempered pace. Strength in the Luxury Market The high-end market will remain resilient, particularly as affluent buyers seek to relocate from Massachusetts in response to the state’s Millionaire’s Tax, and as New Hampshire’s Interest and Dividends Tax is phased out, further enhancing its appeal. Convergence of Greater Boston and Seacoast Price Points The disparity between the median sales prices in Greater Boston and the Seacoast region is expected to narrow, driven by increased demand and rising property values in both areas. Redefining Luxury: Properties Exceeding $3 Million The definition of "luxury" real estate will evolve, with properties valued over $3 million becoming the new benchmark for high-end homes, as buyer demand continues to shift toward this price range. Increased Activity in the Lower-End Market The lower end of the market, defined by varying price thresholds, will see intense competition and faster-moving inventory as prospective buyers, constrained by higher borrowing costs, seek more affordable housing options. Stagnation in Condominium Price Growth Condominium prices in the "standard" segment are expected to face pressure as an influx of new construction and apartment units enter the market. Increased supply will heighten competition, potentially limiting value appreciation for condominiums in this category. .
Persistently high interest rates and modest inventory levels will make things challenging for buyers. Subsequently, our seller’s market should continue but with a smaller buyer pool. More monthly million-dollar sales volume records as the median price continues to rise, albeit at an increasingly modest pace. High-end luxury market should remain strong as buyers flee the Massachusetts Millionaire’s Tax and the NH Interest and Dividends tax goes away. The gap between Greater Boston and Seacoast Area median sales prices will continue to shrink. “Luxury” properties will be defined as those exceeding $3 million. Activity in the lower end, wherever that may be, is more intense “Standard” condominium prices will struggle to edge higher as more units become available, creating more competition.
Highest Average Sales Price
#1
Welcome to the Winter Issue of Seacoast Market Watch. In this report, we present a comprehensive analysis of the real estate market in the greater Seacoast region of New Hampshire and Southern Maine, reflecting on key trends from 2024 and offering insights into what we can expect in the year ahead. As we concluded 2024, several significant single-family, condominium, and rental developments were underway in the Portsmouth area, with additional projects taking shape across Southern Maine. While these developments are expected to help alleviate some inventory challenges, the volume of new units may contribute to moderating condominium prices, which saw a modest 2.1% increase, culminating in a median sales price of $577,950. In the single-family market, we witnessed an impressive series of record-breaking million-dollar transactions, including the highest-ever sales in Portsmouth ($6,800,000) and North Hampton ($10,500,000). The continued impact of the Massachusetts Millionaire’s Tax has proven to be a significant driver of demand for high-end Seacoast properties. Early indicators for 2025 point to a sustained uptick in luxury home sales, further bolstered by the repeal of New Hampshire's Interest and Dividends Tax. For the year, single-family home values appreciated by 13.1%, with a median price of $800,000—still approximately $50,000 below the greater Boston market. However, rising interest rates, now exceeding 7%, remain a challenge for buyers, who are also navigating the persistent constraints on inventory. This evolving market environment, described as “The New Real Estate Market” by NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun, has resulted in active buyer engagement rather than a "wait and see" approach, driving strong sales activity throughout 2024. Looking ahead to 2025, the market will continue to be shaped by a mix of economic uncertainty, shifting political dynamics in Washington, and broader market conditions. Nevertheless, one constant remains: buyers continue to exhibit confidence in the long-term value of real estate in the greater Seacoast area of New Hampshire and Southern Maine. We wish you a prosperous 2025 and remain committed to assisting you in navigating the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Sincerely, The Tate & Foss SIR Team
Introduction
BROWSE ALL MLS LISTING AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MARKET AT LIVESEACOAST.COM SEACOAST MARKET WATCH | 4
Greater Portsmouth Area
TAX RATE: $7.88
NUMBER OF HOMES SOLD
AVERAGE SALES PRICE
2024
PORTSMOUTH
2023
CHANGE
NUMBER OF SALES
303
312
3%
DAYS ON MARKET
35
-24%
AVERAGE PRICE
$919,435
$1,049,610
14%
MEDIAN PRICE
$779,000
$806,500
4%
HIGHEST PRICE
$6,600,000
$6,800,000
GREENLAND • NEW CASTLE NEWINGTON • PORTSMOUTH RYE • RYE BEACH
RYE
54
86
59%
32
50
55%
$1,402,530
$1,783,118
27%
$1,225,000
$1,144,500
-7%
$6,300,000
$18.5M
194%
TAX RATE: $9.22
TAX RATE: $12.99
TAX RATE: $5.39
RYE BEACH
100%
104
108%
$2,377,500
$2,718,000
$2,748,500
16%
$3,900,000
$3,850,000
-1%
TAX RATE: $11.18
$1,233,620
GREENLAND
38
32%
23
21
-11%
$931,972
$836,748
-10%
$877,000
$727,500
-17%
$1,910,000
$1,790,000
-6%
NEW CASTLE
13
-19%
$3,113,836
$2,486,923
-20%
$2,750,000
$2,200,000
$6,495,00
$3,959,000
-39%
T&F Significant Sale: Rye NH | $2,900,000 | November 2024
at a glance
NEWINGTON
9
13%
29
$1,312,500
$2,100,988
60%
$1,400,000
$2,995,000
$5,250,000
75%
474
30
TAX RATE: $8.66
NORTH HAMPTON
49
48
-2%
19
6%
$1,183,702
$1,496,396
26%
$710,000
$1,101,500
$7,000,000
$10.5M
50%
HAMPTON
267
293
10%
33
88
171%
$623,165
$653,953
5%
$570,000
0%
$4,500,000
$4,950,000
SEABROOK
58
55
-5%
27
8%
$776,899
$776,244
$567,500
$600,000
$2,850,000
$3,393,500
19%
T&F Significant Sale: Hampton Falls NH | $1,550,000 | June 2024
TAX RATE: $12.80
Greater Hampton Area
438
SOUTH HAMPTON
7
5
-29%
31
93%
$569,929
$785,000
38%
$611,500
$750,000
23%
$908,000
$1,205,000
33%
HAMPTON • HAMPTON FALLS NORTH HAMPTON • SEABROOK SEABROOK
BROWSE ALL MLS LISTING AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MARKET AT LIVESEACOAST.COM SEACOAST MARKET WATCH | 6
$804,221
TAX RATE: $11.72
TAX RATE: $13.80
NUMBER OF SALES IN HAMPTON UP
TAX RATE: $14.32
TAX RATE: $12.32
HAMPTON FALLS
37
37%
-32%
$919,854
$1,140,405
24%
$897,000
$1,100,000
$1,645,000
$3,250,000
98%
BRENTWOOD • EAST KINGSTON EXETER • KENSINGTON NEWFIELDS • STRATHAM
BRENTWOOD
61
57
64
40
-37%
$665,809
$686,387
$663,317
$690,500
$1,250,000
$1,175,000
TAX RATE: $16.13
TAX RATE: $13.12
TAX RATE: $13.21
BROWSE ALL MLS LISTING AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MARKET AT LIVESEACOAST.COM SEACOAST MARKET WATCH | 8
TAX RATE: $17.79
Greater Exeter Area
EXETER
188
199
41
-35%
$608,400
$645,804
$551,000
$575,000
$2,300,000
$1,502,500
TAX RATE: $25.17
STRATHAM
89
106
$734,807
$719,225
$715,000
$687,500
-4%
$1,540,000
$1,600,000
430
KENSINGTON
64%
51
83%
$846,107
$777,802
-8%
$1,500,000
$1,750,000
17%
NEWFIELDS
15
7%
17
89%
$948,707
$811,260
-14%
$925,000
$1,520,000
TAX RATE: $16.09
EAST KINGSTON
114%
$562,770
$603,093
$560,000
$565,500
1%
$775,000
$1,299,900
68%
$679,135
Greater Dover Area
MEDIAN SALES PRICE IN ROCHESTER UP
SOMERSWORTH
84
103
12%
$382,161
$436,434
$394,950
$425,000
$650,000
$735,000
T&F Significant Sale: 32 Wisteria Drive, Dover NH | Offered at $10,950,000
DOVER • ROCHESTER ROLLINSFORD • SOMERSWORTH
TAX RATE: $18.17
TAX RATE: $14.85
$512,809
TAX RATE: $18.70
NUMBER OF SALES IN DOVER UP
869
ROCHESTER
352
20%
$363,577
$404,724
11%
$350,000
$390,000
$801,000
$812,000
ROLLINSFORD
135%
$411,391
$579,567
41%
$416,000
$414,000
$680,000
84%
BROWSE ALL MLS LISTING AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MARKET AT LIVESEACOAST.COM SEACOAST MARKET WATCH | 10
TAX RATE: $16.41
DOVER
309
390
-21%
$589,873
$646,426
$495,000
$542,500
$4,300,000
$4,437,500
TAX RATE: $29.19
TAX RATE: $20.33
NUMBER OF SALES IN NEWMARKET UP
43%
225
DURHAM
47
21%
$622,835
$722,354
$609,000
$632,500
$975,000
$3,350,000
244%
NEWMARKET
87
109
25%
$546,235
$555,132
2%
$549,900
$559,900
$1,132,012
TAX RATE: $17.20
BROWSE ALL MLS LISTING AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MARKET AT LIVESEACOAST.COM SEACOAST MARKET WATCH | 12
TAX RATE: $25.77
LEE
44
-9%
-43%
$588,000
$598,705
$554,500
$1,050,000
DAYS ON MARKET IN LEE DOWN
MADBURY
11
73%
$628,091
$790,912
$700,000
22%
$1,099,000
$2,000,000
82%
DURHAM • LEE MADBURY • NEWMARKET
$625,151
Greater Durham Area
TAX RATE: $15.57
272
BARRINGTON
34
$564,628
$664,387
18%
$555,000
$604,950
9%
$5,800,000
190%
$603,545
TAX RATE: $20.46
DAYS ON MARKET IN NOTTINGHAM DOWN
TAX RATE: $17.59
STRAFFORD
36
-18%
$604,484
$599,192
$515,000
$557,500
$1,620,000
NORTHWOOD
62
$504,154
$535,245
$475,000
$487,000
$1,850,000
$1,800,000
-3%
NOTTINGHAM
63
68
43
-50%
$558,747
$573,280
$476,000
$1,647,000
$1,350,000
AVERAGE PRICE IN BARRINGTON UP
TAX RATE: $19.76
BARRINGTON • NORTHWOOD NOTTINGHAM • STRAFFORD
BROWSE ALL MLS LISTING AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MARKET AT LIVESEACOAST.COM SEACOAST MARKET WATCH | 14
Greater Seacoast Lakes Area
BERWICK
72
79
$458,666
$453,282
$442,500
$465,000
$922,250
$835,000
BERWICK • ELIOT NORTH BERWICK • SOUTH BERWICK
NUMBER OF SALES IN SO.BERWICK UP
BROWSE ALL MLS LISTING AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MARKET AT LIVESEACOAST.COM SEACOAST MARKET WATCH | 16
TAX RATE: $10.00
$507,352
SOUTH BERWICK
65
$457,217
$495,745
$460,000
$479,000
$1,200,000
NORTH BERWICK
46
-23%
$411,842
$457,929
$467,450
$799,900
TAX RATE: $12.47
DAYS ON MARKET IN BERWICK DOWN
TAX RATE: $11.85
268
ELIOT
$612,244
$623,947
$592,000
$576,100
$1,950,000
-31%
Eliot & The Berwicks
TAX RATE: $13.42
TAX RATE: $16.95
KITTERY
90
107
69%
$766,837
$828,448
$610,000
$3,550,000
$5,100,000
44%
KENNEBUNK • KENNEBUNKPORT KITTERY • OGUNQUIT • WELLS YORK
1,087
TAX RATE: $6.50
For Sale: 23 Kings Road, York ME | Offered at $3,895,000
$869,883
BROWSE ALL MLS LISTING AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MARKET AT LIVESEACOAST.COM SEACOAST MARKET WATCH | 18
WELLS
300
338
$580,335
$589,938
$505,000
$522,500
$3,150,000
KENNEBUNKPORT
71
99
39%
60
$1,472,859
$1,490,314
$1,194,000
$970,000
$9,000,000
$8,400,000
TAX RATE: $14.20
OGUNQUIT
$973,749
$1,010,431
$799,500
$2,500,000
$3,045,000
TAX RATE: $8.40
TAX RATE: $6.46
KENNEBUNK
200
$837,323
$806,755
$628,500
$615,000
$6,050,000
$4,450,000
-26%
TAX RATE: $5.96
Southern York County Coast
YORK
210
270
29%
39
63%
$916,702
$1,036,883
$711,250
$800,000
T&F Significant Sale: 10 Autumn Lane, Rye NH | $3,900,000 | October 2024
$2,869,750
BROWSE ALL MLS LISTING AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MARKET AT LIVESEACOAST.COM SEACOAST MARKET WATCH | 20
T&F Significant Sale: 22 Ocean Boulevard, North Hampton NH | $3,350,000 | September 2024
HIGHEST SALES PRICE
142
Luxury
MEDIAN SALES PRICE
$18,500,000
T&F Significant Sale: 36 Straws Point Road, Rye NH | $8,500,000 | August 2024
$3,465,562
{
T&F Significant Sale: 106 Harbor Road, Rye NH | $2,872,000 | December 2024
Oceanfront
196
BROWSE ALL MLS LISTING AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MARKET AT LIVESEACOAST.COM SEACOAST MARKET WATCH | 22
134 3 $1,162,926 $827,000 $6,800,000
$1,691,400
62 40 $1,900,500 $2,833,586 $18,500,000
T&F Significant Sale: 2 Mill Pond Road, New Castle NH | $2,700,000 | October 2024
Rye
NUMBER OF SALES DAYS ON MARKET AVERAGE PRICE MEDIAN PRICE HIGHEST PRICE
River-Bay-Lakefront
Waterfront
Portsmouth
vs.
SPOTLIGHT ON 2024 WATERFRONT SALES
$1,112,500
$611,250
T&F Significant Sale: 458 Marcy Street, Portsmouth NH | $1,300,000 | October 2024
T&F Significant Sale: 60 Sea Road, Rye Beach NH | $3,850,000 | October 2024
$821,597
Historic & Antique
T&F Significant Sale: 127 Clark Road, Rye NH | $1,425,000 | August 2024
$10,500,000
BROWSE ALL MLS LISTING AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MARKET AT LIVESEACOAST.COM SEACOAST MARKET WATCH | 24
NEWBURYPORT
113
130
15%
$1,084,622
$1,234,860
$905,000
$2,400,000
$3,400,000
42%
IPSWICH
92
83
$925,425
$963,996
$874,950
$895,000
$2,098,000
$2,325,000
ESSEX
-44%
$1,289,539
$1,029,920
$827,500
$2,950,000
BROWSE ALL MLS LISTING AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MARKET AT LIVESEACOAST.COM SEACOAST MARKET WATCH | 26
NEWBURY
45
54%
$1,058,339
$1,084,568
$918,000
$980,000
$2,100,000
$3,510,000
67%
HIGHEST PRICE IN NEWBURYPORT UP
As part of our continued commitment to providing exceptional service and expertise along the Greater Seacoast Area of New Hampshire and Southern Maine, this expansion allows us to better serve our clients with a seamless, multi-state real estate experience.
Now Licensed in Massachusetts!
DAYS ON MARKET IN NEWBURY DOWN
Sharon Parker Sales Associate 603.828.1705 t
Patricia Weathersby Sales Associate 603.957.1430 t
Maggie Campbell Sales Associate 603.918.0069 t
Lizzie Ferris Sales Associate 603.828.1954 t
Sean Fellows Sales Associate 603.616.6885 t
Manuela Kutzer Sales Associate 603.828.2195 t
Robyne Harrison Sales Associate 603.918.6093 t
Dana Mitchell Associate Broker 603.682.2333 t
Lynne Joyce Associate Broker 603.591.8489 t
John Rice Broker Associate 603.498.3921 t
Tony Jalbert Principal Broker 603.498.6241 t
Kristin McNulty Accounting Associate 603.964.8028 t
Lisa Chase Associate Broker 603.817.1818 t
Kathy Corbett Sales Associate 603.781.6959 t
Kasey Gossom Marketing Manager 603.964.8028 t
Jonathan Levy Sales Associate 617.828.3921 t
Jenifer Parker Sales Associate 603.498.0555 t
Caren Logan Sales Associate 603.370.0544 t
Mary Beth Hixon Sales Associate 603.548.5380 t
Brett Mulvey Sales Associate 603.396.6098 t