Can anyone tell me about Belfast? (for sale, rentals, credit card)

[SantaFeSisters]

I have heard alot of nice things about Belfast ! Can anyone tell me about housing? Shopping ? That kind of thing

[mollysmiles]

I think Belfast is one of the better loved towns here on the forum! I've visited, and welcome the opportunity to go back any time I can! I have a step-niece who was proposed to on the walking bridge, and a SIL who moved from the area, with many tears, further in Southern Maine--it was a re-assignment more than a choice! There is a little downtown area that has some nice funky shops, some more traditional shops, a couple of bars, diners...etc. The people are friendly, it really has a hometown feel....and of course you get that nice fresh, salt air smell!!

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Less snow in the winter than many places due to being on the water and cooler in summer. Nice town. There was a housing boom 10 years ago when MBNA, a huge bank and credit card company, was expanding. They overexpanded and have phased back some. Housing has become more affordable. It's a buyer's market.

[Elcarim]

You can visit the chamber website for some basic info. Welcome - Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce

I will post a few pics if you'd like. Belfast is where we've chosen to settle. It is quaint, homey feeling and everyone we met there was so friendly and kind. The downtown area is the "main street" setting, and as Molly said, has artsy shops and diners and a couple of really cool bars. It's a very walkable downtown and also has a couple of great city park areas.

The Free Library (not sure why it's called "FREE" library) is beautiful and has a spectacular children's floor. We spent a couple of hours there playing one morning during a rain.

I've gone all through the city calendar of events, and they are very community oriented with many city-wide events on a regular basis. I mean, who would want to miss a "Chowda Suppah"?! There is also a thriving community theatre that appears to be quite well-known around the state.

We landed in Belfast on our trip and chose to use that as our "central location" while we drove out to check out all the other towns we were interested in possibly settling in. Every evening when we got back to Belfast, we just had that overwhelming sense of "coming home". We started to laugh at ourselves after the 3rd or 4th day when we would take off in any given direction and decide 2 hours later that we'd rather go back! We realized that we hadn't ended up there by accident.

Though everywhere we visited in Maine was beautiful, charming, and friendly, there was only one place that felt like home, and we got that right the very first day! We ended up spending our last 2 days meandering around town and getting to know some of the people. No point continuing to search!

[Elcarim]

If you want me to send you a lot more pics, just DM me with your email address.

[msina]

MBNA was bought out by Bank of America,... a lot of the housing that went up in the area was for employees of that business. A lot of it may be on the market now.

[SantaFeSisters]

Thanks all, any info is greatly appreciated. We will only be making one trip to Maine before we move and that will be to buy a house. We are not any of us good travelers.

[Elcarim]

This has been the best source I've found for rentals and homes for sale for Belfast.

Maine Coast NOW - A Courier Publications Information Source

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by Elcarim

The Free Library (not sure why it's called "FREE" library)

According to my friend who I was hanging around with up there, many of the "small town" libraries were originally "subscription" libraries... you paid a fee to use them!

Others, apparently like the one in Belfast, was always free... likely the result of a well-read town citizen (or more than one...) donating their personal libraries to the town upon their death.

Belfast also has a nice little book/gift store with a delighful cafe in it called "Bell the Cat" which offers free Wi-fi. I had some fantastic split pea soup and a chef salad while using their internet.

[Elcarim]

Well, that makes sense. Here you pay a one-time $5 fee to get a library card and then it's free unless you build up late fees. I thought all public libraries were free.