Sad news in Maine! (Warren: real estate, oceanfront, movers)

[7th generation]

We are having quite an issue with landowners posting their land. After Meade sold all 650,000 acres in Maine and northern New Hampshire, most of it was cut and sold off. A lot of the land was purchased by people from "away" and it is their belief that "posting" the land is a way to preserve it. They don't realize that this land has been used for many generations by Mainers who have been good stewards, but in their part of the country all private land is "posted." This is the norm.
It is the way of life, the same as someone buying an old house and knocking it down to make room for a new one.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Maineorbust asks:
"In reading the posts in this thread I have a question, is a large portion of these land sales being bought by people whom are going to build vacation homes?"

Not at all. When the paper companies lost the right to manage their land to make a profit they sold out. However, when they sold out they left a scorched earth behind. They put so many easements, covenants, codicils and restrictions on the land that nobody will ever be able to live their dream on it. Many people have a dream of building a simple camp in the woods of Maine. The opportunity to do that is being lost daily. I guess that's why the restaurant place mat says, "Buy your Maine land while you still can." There is a lot of land to look at, but not much where you can do anything any more.

[7th generation]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

Maineorbust asks:
"In reading the posts in this thread I have a question, is a large portion of these land sales being bought by people whom are going to build vacation homes?"

Not at all. When the paper companies lost the right to manage their land to make a profit they sold out. However, when they sold out they left a scorched earth behind. They put so many easements, covenants, codicils and restrictions on the land that nobody will ever be able to live their dream on it. Many people have a dream of building a simple camp in the woods of Maine. The opportunity to do that is being lost daily. I guess that's why the restaurant place mat says, "Buy your Maine land while you still can." There is a lot of land to look at, but not much where you can do anything any more.

To the north of me is 400 acres that has been owned by one paper company or another for over 100 years. The last papermaker sold it for $500/acre. A Canadian ,(with logging ties), bought it and a lot more similar lots. They stripped the wood and sold the land for the same amount they paid for it.
A lot of locals "lease" land on lakes in my region. These lots have been in their families for generations. Most "had" 100 year leases. Now this land has been sold and many of the new owners are forcing these folks out or are trying to charge them unbelievable money to buy these lots.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

The Dean family from Waterville leased a camp lot on First Roach Pond for a dollar a year for 99 years. That lease expired in 2000. It was not renewed for a dollar a year. You can't even get a camp site in Maine for a dollar a night, much less a dollar a year. There are many lots on lakes that are worth $85,000. If the owner can sell it for that money and earn $4,250 a year in interest on that money, why should he lease it for a tenth of that? It would be a very poor business decision and cause the board of directors to look most unfavorably on that manager.

[mainewannabe]

This thread made me sad but also made me feel that it's now or never.

Northern Maine Land Man -- why can't these people be stopped? Is no one trying to pass laws to prevent them from fencing off all of maine???

They've stripped every viable business in the western hemisphere it seems. But especially painful for maine ... the beautiful land ...
I DO NOT understand why lawmakers in maine are allowing HOA's and new owners to come in and change an entire way of life.
AND, a part of me agrees with zymer ... when you own it do what you want with it ... BUT ...
the stewardship of this land should be legislated somehow.

OF course, when they did that here in fl lots of the land went under state control and now there are 'wildlife management areas'. (WTH??)
And, no oversight.
And they have been rapacious buying up private land and large private holdings ....

[Northern Maine Land Man]

"And they have been rapacious buying up private land and large private holdings ...."

The state came in and bought 12,000 acres in Drew. That's half the land in town. The state doesn't pay taxes to towns so all the landowners in town had their taxes doubled. Many can't afford that and are trying to sell.

In my little town the state came in and bought 9,800 acres for no particular reason. Those tax dollars we used to get have to be made up by everybody else.

I do believe it's now or never for the average person to buy land in Maine. As available land is lost to the environmental industry and government we citizens are shut out of ever having a little camp in the woods. I own 28 acres of old growth forest that has likely never been cut. I don't intend to cut it. I would never contaminate those woods with some easement that would prevent my grandson from harvesting wood on it. The rest of my land is harvested on a sustainable basis. Maine produces a third of a cord per year per acre over the long term. On 100 acres you can cut 33 cords a year forever and never diminish the volume of wood on the land. I cut less and I high grade. I cut the junk crooked trees for firewood and pulp. I let the straight high value species grow. It just makes sense. Most Maine landowners do the same. If a parcel of land has been mismanaged it is sometimes benefitial to clear cut part of it and just start over with higher value trees.

[raygabs]

Originally Posted by Elcarim

That's what confuses the hell out of me! People go visit a place, fall in love with it THE WAY IT IS, decide to move there and immediately have to change it. What is the point???

I agree, that confuses me too. Can someone tell me what posting is? I hope I don't sound like the idiot of the bunch but I'm not really familiar with the issues of land management in this way. Why is the state buying up land? To preserve it? If so , is that bad and why? I do understand the tax issue that NMLM mentioned but is that the only downside? I agree though that most Mainers have obviously gotten it right with knowing how to carefully steward the land ...it has stayed green and beautiful so far...but apparently that is now changing? Because of outsiders or the government? I'm just trying to get a better grip on the details of the issue. Thanks to anyone who has enough patience to explain it to me....

[raygabs]

y'know this all sounds like it stems from the disease of the world today...money talks -bull***t walks...We try to market garbage to our kids for a quick buck, name our sports arenas after big companies not great people anymore, Beautiful land is there to make a killing... Is it that we really need a change of politics in this country? I really wish I understood why the values of yesterday went out the window? But then again "yesterday" they used to have doctors advertising cigarettes on t.v......

[Northern Maine Land Man]

"Because of outsiders or the government?"

It's both actually. There is a continuum of groups all headed in the same direction. First there is the "planocracy". Those are the folks who think they know best and want to zone every square inch of a town so they control it all. The landowner must obey them.

Next come the preservationists. They want to keep things the way they first saw it. I testify before the legislature from time to time. I point out that there are stone walls in the woods. Those walls were not put there in the woods during the night by elves. They were built by our grandfathers and their fathers when there were fields on that land. The preservationists will let you build if they like you.

Next come the no growth bunch. They want absolutely no growth in the ares they like.

The final group is the human extinction movement led by people such as Prince Philip of England. They think the earth would be better off with no humans at all. You see their bumper stickers on Volvos and such vehicles. "Don't Breed". These bumper stickers are not to prevent stray animals. They are intended for people. Prince Philip said, "If I were reincarnated, I would wish to come back as a killer virus to rid the earth of mankind."

That is what we face. As you consider these various initiatives, just ask yourself; Is this person or program moving toward more freedom or less freedom, bigger government or smaller government, higher taxes or lower taxes?

Oh, and posting is the act of putting up "No Trespassing" signs on your land. This will be viewed by your neighbors as a hostile act and you will be unwelcome in town. The local general store sells signs that say, "Welcome sports. If your land is not posted or gated, please use mine. If your land is posted or gated. please use yours."

Why is it bad when the state buys up land? If they buy an acre to put a boat launch on a lake it's OK, but if they buy thousands of acres to kill the local economy it is very harmful. When the state buys land the first thing they do is put up gates and restrict our traditional use.

[mainebrokerman]

i just want to throw something in the mix, that hasnt been mentioned, many of the "summer homes " in maine might be "used" perhaps 2-3 months out of the year, this house was built in the early 1880's if there hasnt been many updates, the place could be a death-trap,,, anything from lead paint, asbestos, and mold, mildew, in the walls, not to mention an antiquated well, or septic system,, leech field.. that could pose problems,..not to mention leaks in the roof, around windows, in the basement, etc
maine has four distinct seasons,,that wear heavily on a house, much condensation, then dryness, then more condensation, mold and mildew ,,even in maine without proper ventilation can wreak havoc on a home,,
and many ,,,houses that arent used,,are safe-holds for animals,,,from squirrels,,to mice,,to raccoons, and if one of them come in,,and die in the house or walls,,its a mess,,

tho i do agree if someone is going to tear it down,,a new replica would look nice,,