A cottage in Maine?

[bamamick]

To all of you Mainers, where would be a really nice place to look for a small cottage?

Here's the deal: my wife and I are almost to the point where we are ready to sell our home and move into an 800 sq. foot cabin that we built some time ago. The cabin is built of native pine off of our land, milled by my brother-in-law, and put together by my wife and I, with the help of very many willing friends. We love it.

When we sell the house we will have some money to spend, and have always wanted to buy a small place in coastal Maine. My intention is to look in Hancock and Washington counties. It doesn't have to be on the water, just close. Ideally we would look in the MDI area, but places like Machais and Cherryfield looked pretty good to me when we were up there. We have been to Maine seven times in the last eight years, and will be up again in October.

We really kind of wanted to leave this place as a legacy for the whole family. A family place to get away. As I said, waterfront is not a requirement, but easy access is. I am probably talking about something a couple of bedrooms and a bath, something for $150,000.00 or less. Any ideas?

Thanks very much for any ideas.

Mickey lake

[Willin']

I think that amount of money ought to find you something livable on some acreage in the counties you mentioned, Mickie. Bear in mind that construction standards are a little different in Maine than most other places. Not necesarilly worse, but code enforcement has only recently become an issue around here, so you're likely to see a lot of home built stuff that looks pretty crude.

I'd consider buying some land and building or having a place built. With interest rates going up the construction boom should be cooling down and you'll probably be finding some hungry contractors. Just keep an eye on them.

BTW, I recomend against buying an old antique farm house and pulling a 'This Old House' style renovation. I've never heard any happy stories from any of the folks I've met that went that route.

Also, Down East is a long way from any kind of cultural stimulation. Fine if you bring your own entertainment, but be ready to do some driving if you like a bit of theater, music or food other than fried haddock, steamers and lobsters. Just a thought.

[WindHawk]

Hardest thing about moving to Michigan's UP when I was 18 was finding things to do. After abit, you become in tune to your surroundings, you leave, or start drinking way too much. Slowing down was the best thing I've ever done. The cultural thing can be taking care of with NPR and the library. As you probably already love boats, I'm sure you'll come to appreciate just watching the weather. Also, buy a wooden project boat, and sand it by hand!

[Jack Heinlen]

I settled where I did because it is a good compromise. I can be to Bangor(no Paris, mind you) in fifteen minutes, deep water in two, and the open coast in half an hour. The comments about coastal culture are pretty true once you get past Belfast. There are pockets that cater the summer migration. I also looked in Eastport before settling here. It may have perked up a bit in the last five years, but it was really out there. Five years ago you could have a two acre tidal lot on a bay for under twenty. There are still some good deals, but real estate, especially coastal real estate, has been on fire for as long as I've been coming here, twenty years. A little tiny wreck in a coastal town, downeast of Bucksport but this side of Machias, will cost you seventy grand, last time I looked.

Peruse realtor.com. That's always fun. It's not a complete multiple listing, but it's fairly comprehensive.

Good luck.

[rbgarr]

Inland from Camden you might find a small place, and that would give you access to the lakes, hills, ocean and cultural activities of the area. Camden is also an active year 'round town, too, with a good library.

[bamamick]

Thanks for the input, guys. As far as entertainment goes, well, having been born and raised on the Alabama coast, I have pretty much had to make my own entertainment all of my life. My wife is from a small farming community. Same for her. When we visit Maine for vacations we like to hike (really just walk), rest, read. Nice, sedate things. Owning a place would allow us to add the water to that equation.

I have been to Eastport once, and to be honest it was depressingly dead. It looked like the town had been shut down. Hopefully I just went there on a bad day. I will keep looking. If it works out we will probably wind up somewhere above the park. In all honesty I would probably like to build, something like what we've got down here. Small wood frame, no more than 1000 sq. feet. The only thing is that I have been told by more than one person that construction is a long, drawn out process up there. Have I been given some bad information?

Thanks again for the replies. Oh, by the way, for anyone else looking at this same kind of thing, the best value for the money looks like Ellsworth. That's assuming that you want to live in a town. I don't think that we really want to live in a town setting in the warmer months because of the traffic. I think that we'll go north of the park, but Ellsworth has some good prices for the region.

Mickey Lake

[imported_Steven Bauer]

Mickey, my friend just bought some acreage in Bremen, near Damariscotta. Not on the water, but 5 minutes from a salt-water boat launch and 5 minutes from a couple of nice lakes. I think he paid $80k for 45 acres. Very nice area.

Steven

[Meerkat]

If you're looking for inexpensive plans for small dwellings... http://www.countryplans.com/

They even have a forum! ;)

[huisjen]

I think reports of cultural wastelands past Camden are somewhat over exagerated. Brooksville has a couple steel drum bands and regular street dances. Most towns have libraries, firehouses, historical societies, etc. Many have small stores. If you have an interest and are looking for a group to practice it with, put up a notice on a bulletin board.

If you're looking for peace and quiet, that is available too. If you're looking for it in the summer, stay away from Route 1 south of Ellsworth and MDI.

Dan

[ken mcclure]

Eastport.

It's far enough downeast that the only people who will bother you are the ones who really want your company. smile.gif

[Venchka]

Don't look at any property on or near Penobscot Bay. Too many wooden boats. Too many wooden boat builders. Too many wooden boat repairers. Sailmakers. Chandlers. Plane makers. Lobstahs. Lighthouses. Islands. Bays. Coves. WoodenBoat School. Isle au Haut. Port Clyde. Tenants Harbor. Irish pub with a Cajun chef. Terrible. Stay away. :D

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Wayne
In the Swamp.

[Willin']

Outside Magazine just published it's annual top 20 list of best places to live for the outdoor enthusiast. FWIW Lincolnville, Maine made the cut. There goes that neighborhood!

Of course if that magazine stays in business long enough, sooner or later every town will have been named. Someday Trona, CA may be on that list, or Fort Kent, ME. Better call your realtor to beat the rush :eek:

[rbgarr]

Like I suggested, inland from Camden (i.e., Lincolnville) :D

OTOH, my daughter interned for a magazine that competes with Outside and articles like that ('What's the hottest new equipment for kayakers this summer?' - 'What's the best three day B&B getaway for mountain-bikers this spring?') were often assigned to the interns to cobble together, so they can be taken with a grain of salt.

;)