Friday Footnote 1/31
The Friday Footnote 1.31.25
Friends!
I am so exhausted! That’s probably a weird thing for a guy to say who is perpetually stuck in his bed. I’m counting down the days to March 4th when I go in for my next follow-up to see how my ankle is doing. Here’s a photo of my foot. And also the taco salad my wife made.
At the beginning of this self-induced state, when the doctor said at least 12 weeks in bed, that sounded doable. Hearing 12 weeks in bed and actually remaining in bed for 12 weeks are two very different things. And I’ve been cheating a bit—getting out once in a while to go look at houses, but after I get home from that exursion the blood pools in the ankle, and I swell up super bad. Takes an entire other day to recover from that single day out.
With all of this downtime I’ve added another podcast listening experience: The ONE Thing, Jay Papasan’s business, self-help radio show where you can learn the truth behind extraordinary results—at least that’s the tag line. Based around the book Papasan and Gary Keller co-wrote.
This latest episode talks about the cost of busyness and the cost of now allowing yourself to be idle until one day your body up and revolts against you and says, “Hey, we’re just going to stay in bed for 12 weeks.”
In the real estate market
In the entire state of New Hampshire, we have a total of 1,212 single family homes available for sale. The highest days on market has been 913 days, and I’m rather surprised this home has not sold yet at only $789,000 with four bedrooms and three bathrooms “nestled in the picturesque town of Danbury”1 with panoramic views of Ragged Mountain. The lowest priced home is 7 Tannery Road, Haverhill for $59,900. I love thi home’s description as the Realtor hooks you with “Trick of Treat; Enter at your own risk. The average price point for the state sits at $832,652. The median a little lower at $611,000. Over the past six months, we’ve seen a total of 3801 single family homes sell, with the aerage time on market of 16 days.
Almost any Realtor worth thier salt can spit these numbers out. Or if they can’t, they can look those numbers up within minutes. The bigger question, however, is not what those numbers are, but how do you put those numbers in context?
I try to do that every week but I’m only really writing about what I want to write about, and then connect my content to those statistics in a way that makes sense, or at least sense to me.
Well, I’m opening up next week. What do you want to know about real estate you’ve been too afraid to ask? What is it that you want to know? No holds barred here. I will pull back the curtain as far as you want, take you back stage, behind the scenes to the little peephole in the door. No question too big, no question to small. Just hit this green button with your question, and I’ll do a whole Dear Abbey Real Estate Market report just for you!
The Wicked Moxie
I was supposed to write a Wicked Moxie piece this week. Instead, my energy went elsewhere—into political commentary. Specifically, a pro-liberal, Democrat-centric breakdown with real, tangible action steps you can take today.
Now, if you’re a conservative, neo-liberal, or Christian nationalist, one (or both) of two things will likely happen:
You might disagree with me. Maybe even get angry. That’s fine, but I’d still like that we remain friends.
You’ll learn the left’s new communication strategy—which is a little problematic because, let’s be honest, that’s like handing the opposing team our playbook before the game starts.
Either way, red state, blue state, left or right—I get it if you want to skip this one. But if you stick around, I hope it makes you think.
About Town
In Dover
Tuesday, Feburary 4, 5pm to 8pm: Woodman Winter Warm-up
Chapel + Main for a fun night out with live music from Gnarly Darling, drinks, appetizers, raffle prizes, and more! All proceeds from this event will go to The Woodman Museum. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased here.
In Portsmouth
Saturday, February 8, 7:30pm: Juanito Pascual (flamenco) at The Music Hall, Portsmouth NH ~! 7:30pm ET ~
In Rochester
Saturday, Feburary 1: Hearts on Main Street
Create your very own Heart on Main Street at the Love Clinic! Decorate a 12" x 10.8" red heart with a custom, family-friendly message (up to 25 characters). Your heart will be displayed throughout downtown Rochester, inside businesses and around Central Square, from February 1st to 14th. Hearts are $25 each.
Have an event you would like to share? Email the details to sbargdill@kw.com and I’ll stick it on the list!
PROPERTY OF THE WEEK
1 Sherman Street, Rochester, NH 03839
🛏️4 Beds, 🛁2 Baths, 📏2,399sq ft, $359,000
Estimated payment: $2,797/mo
Estimation provided by Keller Williams Realty Inc.
Contact a mortgage broker today!
Welcome to 1 Sherman St, Rochester, NH! This classic New Englander perfectly blends timeless character with modern conveniences, creating a warm and inviting space you’ll be proud to call home. The heart of the home is a spacious kitchen featuring granite countertops, rich wooden cabinetry, a central island with seating, and a bright and airy atmosphere. The adjacent formal dining room provides the perfect setting for gatherings, while the living room, with its cozy ambiance and natural light, is ideal for relaxing with loved ones. This charming home boasts three generously sized bedrooms, two bathrooms, and versatile living spaces, including a home office and a music room. Outside, the large back deck is surrounded by mature trees, offering privacy and tranquility for outdoor dining or entertaining. A detached garage provides ample storage or workshop potential, and the private yard is perfect for gardening or play. Conveniently located near schools, shopping, and major routes, this property offers a balance of charm, function, and location. Don’t miss your chance to own this special piece of New England!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
During a phone call just shooting the the b.s., with my friend Jake, we started talking about our weight loss journeys. You always here women talk about thier weight issues, you hardly hear fat guys in public go, “Yeah, I’m on this new diet.” Or maybe that’s just my perception? One of my fellow Realtors lost a ton of weight, and I was like lookin good! And she said, “Ozempic, baby.” Well, I’m very happy with my reformulated Fen-phen, you know the stuff that was causing people heart valve issues in the 1980s?
❝It tastes pretty good as long as you don’t remember what the real stuff tastes like ~Jake Cormier, Edward Jones
Jake was talking about his chocolate milk replacement. Here’s 10 Health Hacks for successful people, though I only do 7 out of the 10.
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
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Honestly, if I see the word “nestled” in one more real estate home description, I may vomit a little bit inside my mouth. The cliches abound in this home’s particular description. If you’re interested, you can check out my writing process for “If My Kids Were Straight, Would I Still Be Writing This?” And if you’re really really interested, I’ll share my process for writing home descriptions that actually do heavy lifting.
Behind the Writing
I’ve been using AI as a writing assistant, springboard, and thinking partner for months now, and in that time, I’ve realized something crucial: