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Maine Real Estate For Sale
In the northeastern corner of the United States is a peninsula with miles of beautiful shore, a laid-back environment, and high quality of life. It’s appropriate that Maine is known as The Pine Tree state, given its beautiful foliage, but it has much more to offer than just gorgeous views. If you choose to invest in Maine real estate, you will quickly learn that seafood, boating, and even antiquing are all important parts of the culture. While it’s true that Maine comes with harsh winters, the state remains popular because of all its other benefits.
Maine Real Estate Market
With a relatively low number of new residents, the Maine real estate market tends to be more stable than other parts of the country, with less demand for new housing. Like much of New England, many Maine homes are historic or styled to fit in with surrounding historic homes. These houses have typically been updated to include modern features like central heating, but they maintain the New England charm you would expect from the area.
Maine is larger in size than its New England counterparts, so while it technically has more real estate than neighboring states like Vermont or Massachusetts, it actually has the lowest housing density in the region. This means that you’re unlikely to find urban-style neighborhoods with houses packed in close together. Instead, even the suburbs and town centers in Maine offer homes with large lots. Over 70% of real estate in Maine is detached single-family units.
The median price of a home in Maine real estate market is just over $300,000. While this is slightly above the national average, it is the lowest among other northeastern states, making it an affordable option. Anyone looking at homes for sale in Maine will also notice that the state has a relatively low monthly cost of ownership, even with high heating costs in the winter.
While any Maine home will have at least one heating mechanism, if not multiple, including things like wood stoves, you’ll notice that very few have air conditioning. Temperate summers and ocean breezes make this unnecessary for most people.
Schools in Maine
The Department of Education in Maine governs education throughout the school districts in the state. The state is unique in that it has four types of school departments that sit under the DOE:
- Local schools, which serve a single municipality
- School unions between multiple school departments, which share a superintendent but operate independently
- Maine School Administrative Districts, which incorporate multiple towns into one school department and share a central board
- Community School Districts, which are meant to bring together districts with such a small student population that they cannot justify a school in that district
Students can also attend schools in another district if their parents pay tuition to the school. Much of this system is unique to Maine and is meant to serve rural areas where schools are not as accessible as they may be in other states.
Despite the unusual structure, Maine ranks highly in nearly every aspect of education. Compared to the national average, Maine has a smaller class size and higher spending per student. This is evident across the state, and especially in the top 5 school districts, which are as follows:
- Falmouth Public Schools, a small district made up of only three schools in the coastal town of Falmouth. A student-to-teacher ratio of 11.5 helps students perform well, with high proficiency rates in both math and RLA.
- Yarmouth School District, in a suburb of Portland, boasts a high school that won the 2019 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence honor.
- MSAD #51 is another small district made up of four schools in the town of Cumberland. With a graduation rate of over 95%, students here routinely score above the state average on all tests.
- Cape Elizabeth School Department has an enrollment of about 1600 students and has been named a Blue Ribbon School twice in recent years.
- Scarborough Schools is a coastal district where students excel in both academics and extracurricular, boosting their graduation rate to 90%.
Colleges in Maine
In addition to these districts and private schools for youth, Maine real estate also has access to 29 institutions of higher learning, including the University of Maine System and the University of New England. The state also houses Bowdoin College, Colby College, and Bates College, which collectively form the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortium, which ranks in the top 10% of liberal arts colleges throughout the country.
Frequently Asked Questions About Maine Real Estate
What is the nearest commercial airport in Maine?
Maine real estate has access to three international airports, located in Portland, Bangor, and Presque Isle. Portland International Jetport is the largest, but Bangor International Airport is the most convenient to Acadia National Park.
What major attractions/landmarks are a must-see in Maine?
Acadia National Park is a large draw to Maine for its scenic views, hiking trails, and variety of outdoor activities. Maine’s many beach towns are also popular tourist destinations, which lend themselves to lighthouse tours. Larger cities like Portland offer a variety of restaurants and shopping alongside cultural experiences, but none are far from the coast and the ability to enjoy Maine’s beaches.
What is the weather like in Maine?
Maine is known for harsh winters with lots of wind and snow. The average winter temperature is between 15 and 20 degrees, depending on the part of the state you are in. However, the summers are very mild, with average temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees. Maine does have four distinct seasons, including the beautiful foliage of the fall and crisp evenings in the spring.
When does school start and end in Maine?
Maine’s K-12 public schools are usually in session from late August or early September through mid-June.
Where is the best place to live in Maine?
Depending on what you want in a home, different areas of Maine will be best for you. The state has a versatile landscape, including desert and beachfront cities alike. Portland is the largest city and may be best for those who want a more active nightlight, while its suburbs can be a good choice for families who need access to town and a family-friendly neighborhood. For a more rural experience, an area like Cumberland may be a better fit.
Things to do in Maine
Don’t let the laid-back environment and rural towns fool you- Maine is a vibrant state with plenty to entertain tourists and residents alike. The majority of Maine’s visitors come for the scenery, whether that is a lush forest or a coastal town peppered with lighthouses, but that isn’t all there is to the state. Maine’s cities offer gardens, art, museums, and of course, delicious seafood. The list of things to do in Maine is extensive, but some of the most popular appear below.
Acadia National Park & Mount Desert Island
A stretch of coastline in Maine surrounds a large inland region of lakes, streams, and forests that together make up Acadia National Park. Nature lovers will enjoy the 100 miles of hiking trails and the summit at Cadillac Mountain, as well as the opportunities for camping and kayaking. The park also contains Mount Desert Island, with Japanese-inspired gardens and waterside villages.
The Old Port
Maine’s largest city, Portland, offers a bit of something for everyone, but The Old Port is undoubtedly the biggest draw. The busy docks and seafood restaurants offer a true coastal experience, including the ability to board a ferry and visit nearby islands. A landmark in the area is Portland Head Lighthouse and the museum within it, offering views of the city and historical artifacts.
Old Orchard Beach
While Maine has no shortage of beaches, this one is unique in its over-the-top theming. Old Orchard Beach real estate has New England’s only remaining beachfront amusement park, complete with a Ferris wheel, bumper cars, and soft serve stands. This is all paired with a pristine seven-mile beach with free public access.
Monhegan Island
Even Maine residents need a break every once in a while, and this small island 10 miles off the coast is the perfect place to relax. The island has no cars and no paved roads, with only 75 permanent residents. While the residents tend to work in fishing and lobstering, it is a destination for many artists and has a long-term art colony alongside many studios and galleries.
Maine Job Market
The largest sector of Maine’s economy is manufacturing, with paper and wood being common imports. Because of the cold climate, the state does not produce many food products- but the exception is lobster, which is a large part of the culture and economy in the state. J.D. Irving, the state’s top employer, is the primary source of all manufacturing, from forestry to food processing.
Other top employers in the state include Idexx Laboratories, L.L. Bean, Hannaford Supermarkets, and MaineGeneral Health.
If you are interested in looking at real estate for sale in Maine but unsure about your job prospects, the state actually has a robust program in place to help transplants. In partnership with local businesses, a program called Live and Work in Maine encourages people to relocate to Maine and work within the state. There is even a campaign called “Visit for a Week, Stay for a Lifetime,” which offers vacation reimbursements to candidates.