Moving To Maine
Maine has it all —mountains, ocean, forests, lakes, picture-perfect white winters, mild weather in the summer. If you’re thinking of moving here, I don’t blame you. 
Our house (photo by Jeff Hawkins)
When my husband Jeff and I decided to move from Pittsburgh to Maine last summer, we were eager to find a home in a beautiful rural area, close to lakes, mountains, and the ocean. And, after thirty-something house tours, three failed offers, and four months of driving back and forth between Pennsylvania and Maine, that’s exactly what we got — but nothing was half as easy as we expected. If we were going to move again (not that we’re planning to!), there’s a lot we would have done differently. So what do you need to know when you’re buying a house in Maine? Here are a few things to consider.
Location. Though you may love the idea of an ocean view from your kitchen window, do you love the idea of doubling your mortgage payments? I didn’t think so. As you might expect, lakefront and oceanfront houses are by far the most expensive types of real estate in Maine. If you think it’s worth the money, go for it. If you’d rather keep a little cash in savings though, consider buying a property near a lake or ocean that has a right-of-way easement; even if the house isn’t right on the water, you’ll still have legal access to it, and are free to go swimming or build a dock there. If that’s still too pricey, don’t stress — no matter where you move, you’re never far from a lake. You can find a public access beach any time you like. Some of the most expensive places to buy real estate in Maine are Portland’s ritzy suburb, Cape Elizabeth; Kennebunkport, where the elder George Bush has a house; and exclusive islands like Islesboro, where both Kirstie Alley and John Travolta own mansions. To get the best value for your money, find a place a little further from Portland and the ocean — our town, Gray, is a half hour drive from Portland, but the price difference in housing more than makes up for the commute.
Cable/Internet Service. Maine isn’t the most “wired” place in the world. Though it’s slowly catching up with the rest of the United States, many of the more rural towns don’t have access to high-speed Internet service or cable television. Within half an hour of Portland, you should probably be covered by Time Warner Cable. For anything farther away, check with the Town Office of where you’re considering moving.
Septic system. First of all, you want to make sure it works properly — there’s nothing worse than sewage seeping through your lawn. But there’s another issue that I didn’t have a clue about before moving here. Many houses in Maine have private septic systems; these systems are built to accommodate a certain amount of people and no more. We almost bought a 3-bedroom house before learning that it was actually only a 2-bedroom house — the third bedroom was part of an extension; the septic tank’s leech field, however, had never been extended, so the tank was not designed to accommodate more than 2 to 3 people. Even if this isn’t an issue for you, it very well could be whenever you try to resell the house — so always make sure you know the details of the septic plan before making an offer on a house.
Inspection. Maine is full of old houses, and the harsh winter weather can wreak havoc on their structure. There are hundreds of things to look for to make sure a new house isn’t a potential money pit. Is the wood rotting? Are the windows in good shape? Does the roof need to be replaced? Make sure you find a reputable inspector to look at the house, and try to be there for the inspection if at all possible. This is the best way to find out if the house is really as perfect as you think, and if it’s worth investing the money. Buying a house is one of the biggest decisions you can make — make sure that it’s the right one for you before you commit. There are lots of other things to consider in your move, but you’ll learn as you go along. Above all, have patience and do your research. It takes time to find the perfect spot. Next, check out part 2 of this article, where I’ll discuss what to consider when it comes to buying land in Maine.
Written by Kathy Hawkins on April 18, 2007
Filed Under Maine, Property, Land
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