Our profile this week features Gary and Maureen Robidoux from Pelham, NH who recently purchased a vacation property at Yacht Club Vista on Lake Winnipesaukee in Gilford.
Q: What brought you to the Lakes Region?
A: We grew up in Pelham, NH and have 2 boys, 26 and 22 years old. Over the years we vacationed in many regions… at NH’s seacoast, the coast of Maine, the Florida Keys, Aruba, Mexico, Virginia Beach, and other vacation retreats. We felt we wanted a region that was close to home without extensive travel time. So many places took 4-8 hours out of our day to get there! A beacon surfaced when we rented a lake home in Meredith last year for 1 week…we absolutely fell in love with the Lakes Region. Everyone was so friendly and there was so much to do.
What did you do next?
We knew right off after renting in Meredith that the Lakes Region was the perfect spot, so we signed up on real estate websites Zillow and Trulia in October to research properties in the Lakes Region. Prior to this past year our family had taken many day trips with kids to the Lakes Region and coastal regions, however we felt the Lakes Region offered so much more for year-round living compared to the coast. We communicated with Rachel Xavier, a Realtor® in Meredith, through Zillow and outlined some of our objectives.
The search begins?
We looked at 20-25 properties in Laconia, Gilford, Meredith and Alton Bay, on Lake Opechee, Winnisquam, Newfound and Lake Winnipesaukee. We found a property in Laconia on Plantation beach…however the deal went south. Rachel was convinced she would find us the perfect place, so we continued our quest. Many weekends and lots of properties, culminating in a great showing at Yacht Club Vista on Lake Winnipesaukee.
What transpired after the search?
We loved this location in Gilford at Yacht Club Vista. It had the perfect walk-in natural sand beach with crystal clear water, unbelievable views of Mt. Washington and the lake, and our own boat slip with large sundecks built over the water. An outdoor pool and tennis court was also included. The condominium home included 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, an open kitchen/dining area, living room, and laundry. The enclosed porch overlooking the lake was so relaxing. Both of us immediately felt so comfortable at this spot and said let’s go for it!
What activities do you both enjoy in the Lakes Region?
Both of us love boating, kayaking, swimming and hiking, and there’s so many fun restaurants and pubs to experience. We’re right next to Meadowbrook and we’ve been going to concerts there for years. It’s a 1st class phenomenal facility and a huge attraction for the Lakes Region. Gary loves to fish and golf and the choices are endless. I cross-country ski and Gary downhill skis, and we hope to get another snowmobile this winter. The Winnipesaukee area offers so much with its quaint New England villages and relaxed atmosphere. It’s perfect for our stage in life and the kids adore this place.
What do both of you do for work back home?
Gary is an engineer and president of Mammouth Fire Protection in Lowell, Mass. He’s been in the industry for 25 years and he’s the president of the New England Fire System Designers Association. Maureen has been a registered nurse for 23 years with an office in Dracut, Mass. and she’s the sole proprietor of a medical skin care company “A Smoother You.”
What are your future plans?
We plan to rent our vacation home periodically. Some renters were in place for this upcoming Motorcycle Week. Where we can’t come up every single week because of our busy work schedule, it makes sense to rent once in a while to help defray the expenses. Now that summer has arrived we can’t wait to explore the beauty of Lakes Region and settle in to our new-found lifestyle on Lake Winnipesaukee, which we are so excited about.
Please feel free to visit www.s21794.p694.sites.pressdns.com to learn more about the Lakes Region and its real estate market. This article was written by Frank Roche. Frank is president of Roche Realty Group, Inc. in Meredith & Laconia, NH and can be reached at (603) 279-7046
