Relocating - Chicago to Maine - Portland, Brunswick, Yarmouth (Falmouth: new house, transfer)

[bangorme]

Originally Posted by EllenPB

The information we've read here on this board has been very helpful. Thanks to all for your local knowledge and generosity

Now we've refined our thinking to these four high school districts, in random order:

Cumberland
Cape Elizabeth
Yarmouth
Falmouth

We'd prefer an old house to new construction, a community with things worth walking to (both natural and commercial/cultural) within walking distance, communities that are more liberal than not, and within reasonable distance of a place where we can keep our daysailer at a mooring or dock. High speed internet access is a must (our house further up the coast has only dial up!). We will not spend more than $500K for a house and would be delighted to find one under $300K.

Thanks

Well, I can only speak to Cape since I grew up there:
Old House: Naw
Walking Distance: Naw
Liberal: Yeah
Mooring: I think so, but never owned a boat.

Cape real estate is very very expensive, but you could get something bigger than a very small Cape Cod in a nice neighborhood for 400-500k I would think.

[atrixwolfe]

Not all cape real estate is Very very expensive, these days. Only the big houses along shore road. I've notices South Portland more per SQ ft and higher taxes than cape. Not alot of older house though most were build in the 60's and there is new construction in your price range, which I saw you were not interested in. But you'll have a fair selection as you've hopefully noted by looking on line.

For cape, you'll have high speed internet and in all the towns you listed though time warner. Moorings and marina's are in south portland and portland very close by.

I noticed freeport was not on your list, have you ruled it out?
You'll be able to tell best which areas you like when you do an in person visit. All these areas are very close to each other, but all are just a bit different. It seems people just get a feel for the place that suits them.

Best of luck

[EllenPB]

When we think of Freeport, we think of LLBean outlet traffic on Route 1. Also, we think (given 4 to 6 dance classes a week) that being on the north side of Portland will make it easier to ferry our daughter back and for to classes and rehearsals.

[bangorme]

Originally Posted by EllenPB

When we think of Freeport, we think of LLBean outlet traffic on Route 1. Also, we think (given 4 to 6 dance classes a week) that being on the north side of Portland will make it easier to ferry our daughter back and for to classes and rehearsals.

Falmouth & Yarmouth would be your best choices then.

[atrixwolfe]

Originally Posted by EllenPB

When we think of Freeport, we think of LLBean outlet traffic on Route 1. Also, we think (given 4 to 6 dance classes a week) that being on the north side of Portland will make it easier to ferry our daughter back and for to classes and rehearsals.

There are ways around that traffic and its really only busy june ro sept and is on the north side of portland But looks like someplace close to dance classes would be best, falmouth or yarmouth.

[EllenPB]

Well,
we've been doing a lot of research on line, and seem to have settled on Yarmouth. But I find myself wondering, as all three of these school districts - Yarmouth, Falmouth and Cape Elizabeth - seem to have very good schools.

How would these three school districts compare? We will be looking for their ability to integrate a totally homeschooled child into grade 8, before a transition to the public high school.

Also, we are curious about other ways in which to distinguish these three towns. How are they alike? How are they different? [Good grief. Can you tell that I am a reformed college professor - "Compare and contrast these three Maine communities. . . " ]

[EllenPB]

We visited Yarmouth last week, and are sure that this is the town where we'd like to settle. And, we're happy to learn that January temperatures in Yarmouth are a couple of degrees WARMER than our town near Chicago, so we are getting away from the midwestern winter and moving to where it's more temperate.

[EllenPB]

Thanks for all of the help you gave as we made this big decision.
We closed on a house in Yarmouth and couldn't be happier.
Now, we have to move! Yikes!

[redgoast]

welcome to maine.

[atrixwolfe]

Originally Posted by EllenPB

Thanks for all of the help you gave as we made this big decision.
We closed on a house in Yarmouth and couldn't be happier.
Now, we have to move! Yikes!

Congratulations!! And welcome! Wishing you mild weather while moving.
Thanks for the update.