Shopping for Retreat Property in Rural Western Maine – From Richard Frost in Maine
I’m a survivalist Realtor in Western Maine. I will work with buyers on the many retreat-type properties in the foothills of the northern Appalachians generally within 100 miles or so of the 100 year old agency I’m associated with.
However, there are many, many properties that I have access to which are further away from me – at least 3/4 of the state has retreat-type properties – so can travel further, or refer buyers to another broker. Maine is loaded with reasonably priced (and going lower !) large lots with, or without buildings. Lots of grown up old farmland from 5 – 500 acres – one remarkable 2 0,000 + acre parcel nearby that I’m very familiar with !! Only about 1.3 million folks in this whole isolated state, mostly large forested tracts owned by corporations far away, and we have an excellent long seacoast for trading when perhaps it will be an autonomous state. (or partnered w/free-state New Hampshire !?) Plenty of game from Moose & Deer to Turkeys, Waterfowl, Fish, and tasty Partridge. One hour from our office to the closest stop-light!
Maine has low property taxes for these types of places and relaxed gun laws, in fact it’s a good place to buy guns without registration, as there’s a statewide weekly publication where people sell things, including lots of guns, directly, not to mention livestock, feed, building supplies, etc., etc..
Zoning generally isn’t a problem as far as efforts at farming go.
There are a few small cities – Portland is the largest with only about 100,000 people, so someone could possibly continue to work, and be 1 1/2 hrs. from their retreat, and there’s not enough people to clog the roadways.
The area by our agency, [the vicinity of the town of] Rangeley, is a mountain and lake resort-type area, so properties are a bit higher, and if anyone were to look at our web site, I wouldn’t want them to be turned away by prices. However, prices that seem high to me are considered cheap to people from other areas. Having said that, I would also say that the few large properties yet undeveloped nearby (say 40 acres for $175,000, or 23 acres for $150,000) are just gorgeous, and in a very beautiful area that will provide lots of fun recreational things to do while waiting to see what happens with the economy . There are plenty of affordable retreat properties in back of the more expensive coastal areas – you can choose to be closer to a little civilization, or to be at the end of a dirt road in an unorganized township, and the taxes on those can be really cheap, like $130 per year for 150 acres! Wooded lots a little further out (that may have some fields remaining) in what were farming areas can be had for as little as well under $100,000 for 100 acres, and plenty of 5 to 40 acre parcels for $12,000-to-$39,000. Generally water is easily accessible in the state, and dug wells are still very common. If you look at a map of Maine, you’ll see that it’s absolutely covered with ponds, lakes, rivers and streams. It is very possible to harvest ice [from ponds] for refrigeration. I’ve done it myself more than once, it works well, and isn’t too hard to do.
Homes sell for a good bit below the national average statewide, but in the outlying areas they are much cheaper.
As a native, it’s been my experience that locals will be very friendly if you are outgoing with them, or if you like, they will leave you alone. Generally speaking, Mainers are self-sufficient, helpful, fairly educated, and all in all, good folks.
We are quite far from any possible [military or terrorist] targets. New York City is about nine hours [drive] away. Where I live is 185 miles from Quebec City, 215 mi. from Montreal, 230 miles from Boston, and 120 miles from Portland [Maine], while being very close to New Hampshire and Canada if someone wanted to skip over the border for whatever reason. New Hampshire, for instance, doesn’t have an income tax, but they hit you hard on real estate tax .
I am happy to chat, or e-mail with any curious or interested preparedness folks. Every cent I make goes into my own preparations and I’m very interested in meeting like-minded people to possibly with whom to partner-up. Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst – I feel there’s no better example of “erring on the side of excess” !
Richard Frost, Realtor. E-mail: richard@morton-furbish.com. Cellular phone: 207-491-8970 or, ask for me at Morton & Furbish Agency Phone: 207-864-5777