Five Questions: With Margherita Verani
Margherita Verani, CEO
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty
What should people in New Hampshire pay more attention to?
Restricted local zoning laws and development regulations. They limit housing options and make it harder to retain young workers and essential personnel, directly impacting our long-term economy. The towns need to open their eyes to review zoning without throwing more money at the problem. Town regulations account for almost 30% of the overall housing costs.
What is the biggest challenge facing New Hampshire over the next few years
The severe shortage of housing inventory across all price points. We need innovative municipal planning to build more homes while still preserving our state’s rural character. I also think that the voting population should keep an eye on regulations that want to increase taxes to offset costs versus actually balancing the budget the same way companies have to deal with this.
What's happening in your industry that will have the biggest impact on New Hampshire?
The growth of AI and data technology in real estate operations. While these tools make pricing and marketing much more efficient, local expertise and human relationships still remain irreplaceable.
If you could change one thing about New Hampshire, what would it be?
Streamline local planning board approval processes. Reducing unnecessary regulatory delays will help us build housing faster while protecting community standards.
What advice would you give to someone trying to succeed in New Hampshire today?
Focus on building local trust and strong relationships. New Hampshire is a tight-knit state where long-term success comes down to your reputation and hyper-local knowledge. My father always said real estate was face to face, belly to belly.