Works and rents in Sandwich but can’t find an affordable home to purchase
Pam Urda: 36 years
Graduated from college and moved to Sandwich a few years later as an employee of the town in the Recreation Department. She had grown up in a near by community but began to call Sandwich home. Her friends are here. Her work is here. After piecing together a living of Recreation dept. work, waitressing and bartending at the Corner House Inn, Pam established her own gardening business. Renting an apartment over her landlord’s garage she began to save for a down payment to buy land. She continues to save, but struggles to find something she can afford. Being self-employed and single makes it very difficult to have the money for a mortgage payment that is about $1300 per month for a house that costs between $170,000-$200,000.
Born and raised in Sandwich but can’t find a place to own here
Edie Nixon: 54 years
Edie grew up in Sandwich until she was 9 years old. Her family then moved to Tamworth. When she was 40 and transitioning from a marriage she returned to Sandwich working as a housekeeper and property manager for many Sandwich households. She talks about how much she loves the town and has been looking for something to buy for 10 years. At this point she is only able to rent and needs a home that costs her around $350/month. “There is nothing I can afford. I struggle to pay the oil bill all winter and then work all summer to catch up.“
Born & Raised in Town - Want to stay
Leo Greene and Macy Stanek: 34 years and 31 years
Leo grew up in Sandwich and moved back in 2004. He is currently a graduate student and working as a caretaker and soccer coach. Macy is a product manager for Salmon Press. They are currently renting a house in Moultonborough but would like to buy in Sandwich where Leo’s parents and sister still reside. Between the two of them they can afford about $950/ month in rent or mortgage which would mean they would have to have a huge down payment to keep their mortgage affordable in today’s prices. “ I love Sandwich and I can’t think of anywhere else I would rather have grown up and gone to school. Sandwich Players were so wonderful when I was little. There were so many young people. Now, so many of the new people who move to town are generally retired. We just looked at a house that is a real “fixer upper” and they want $185,000 for it. What happened to the $100,000 house? These prices force people like me to have to look elsewhere.”
Current resident - Looking to downsize for retirement but can’t find anything affordable…
 Shirley Lear: 73 years
Shirley has lived in Sandwich for 50 years and raised her family here. She has been a schoolteacher and is still an avid gardener and has helped out many a family in town with her generosity. She and her former husband Peter Lear, a silversmith bought their home with a 30-year mortgage for $3000 in 1962. Now that her children are grown and she is getting older she would like to purchase a smaller house that would require less work. Unfortunately she cannot afford the prices of smaller finished homes in town. She worries that she is going to have to sell her house and move out of town in order to be able to care for herself.
Born in Sandwich — Both Work — Can’t find home they can afford
 Ben and Deanne Lear and family:
Ages: Ben 40 Deeanne 38 Brianna 8 Jessica 6
Hometown: Ben – Sandwich Deeanne-Meredith
Employers: Ben- UPS
Deanne- Meredith Village Savings Bank

Ben and Deeanne were married in 1997. Ben had grown up in Sandwich and wanted to raise his family here. His mother still lives here and he wanted to be close to her as she grew older. But when looking for homes they were out of the young couples price range.
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