Want to Live in Maine (Augusta, Houlton: rent, house, buy)

[SharonCorey]

I am from Georgia and tired of the heat. I am trying to convince my husband that we should move to Maine. I love the history that I read about the town of Houlton and would love to consider moving there. I have 2 kids. I haven't been able to find any jobs though in that area. I am a litigation paralegal. My husband does accident reconstruction for a living. Any ideas anyone? Thanks.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Both have good job opportunities. If hubby does industrial, workplace and automobile accident research he'll be in demand.

[ljotis]

I've done the opposite move from you. I'm originally from Mars Hill, about 30 miles north of Houlton, and moved to Augusta, GA....when I get back in a few months, we're moving to ATL. I'm military, so I really don't get a chance to say no. Jobs for him will be easy (especially in winter time ) and you shouldn't have too hard a time finding a job yourself. The reason it may seem hard right now is that they are still a lil behind on techknowledgy up there and don't put jobs on the internet all the time like the big cities do, they're usually pretty good if they even get it to the paper. Enjoy, and you'll love it!

Otis

[AliceT]

Word of caution: Try before you buy. Your post sounds like you saw some pretty pictures and are tired of the heat in GA - so are moving to Maine. I hope there is more to it than that. Maine is filled with beauty from January right straight through to, well, January. But it is not for beginners hoping for cuddly evenings sitting in front of a roaring fire while Jack Frost nips at your nose and chestnuts are roasting delicately over the open fire.

If at all possible, rent a place in the area you like for a year before you buy. This will serve a couple purposes all rolled into one endeavor: You'll get a feel for the real values of the properties in the area; gives you time to find the perfect area with the perfect job opportunities; gives you the benefit of experiencing all 4 seasons before you really decide where you want to be. There are benefits and disadvantages to being either in the city or in the country. Long driveways are great - until you have to plow or shovel snow just to get to work. Being on a hill gives panoramic views of the mountain and the vast open lands of the area, but good luck keeping your entry free of ice after a freeze that follows on the heels of light rain.

You'll learn that the sun does not know about rising in the east and setting in the west, at least, not in Maine. Not in Montana, either. So before you buy a west-facing house with the hopes of watching breath-taking sunsets each evening, you might want to really live in the area to see where the sun likes to set most of the year. And about those sunsets... in the winter, they occur before 4pm.

Temps in the 90's have found their way into Maine - more than our usual fare this past summer. There were actually days this past summer that our temperatures looked like they belonged in GA! Of course, those temps didn't hang around and linger all through the night, as they do in GA. But on the flip side, have you monitored the "average" winter temperatures in Maine - and how long the winters last? Having -40F is not at all uncommon and can hang around for several days to several weeks. First snow can come as early as September and even late August is not unheard of. At the end of winter, the danger of frost might end in June - but don't ask for it in writing. If gardens are your thing, you might want to find a place further south. But there is no shortage of hummingbirds! Go figure.

Maine is a great state to live in and I can't think of anywhere I would rather be, but please, do your homework and be sure - before you make the move.

[dmyankee]

Maine is filled with beauty from January right straight through to, well, January. But it is not for beginners hoping for cuddly evenings sitting in front of a roaring fire while Jack Frost nips at your nose and chestnuts are roasting delicately over the open fire.

To funny LOL!

"Reindeer landin' on your rooftop, Jack Frost nippn' at your sill, but if someones commin' down your chimney, you better load your gun and shoot to kill."

Weird Al Yankovich

[marclar]

I have been researching the topic of moving to Maine for many many years now. Finally it looks like we will be able to move soon and select pretty much any location to make our home and that is the question. I would really like a property close to the shoreline or perhaps on a large lake. I would like to find some feedback about various locations

[Northern Maine Land Man]

There is plenty of both types of properties, but they are the most expensive and highest taxed properties we have.

[forest beekeeper]

Unless of course you choose to go with riverfrontage rather than lake frontage.

So some reason [which defies reasoning] riverfrontage does not always follow the theme of being more expensive and can many times be even cheaper.

[dramamama6685]

Originally Posted by marclar

I have been researching the topic of moving to Maine for many many years now. Finally it looks like we will be able to move soon and select pretty much any location to make our home and that is the question. I would really like a property close to the shoreline or perhaps on a large lake. I would like to find some feedback about various locations

Eastport...small town, very friendly, reasonable housing costs, and on the watah!!! "course the job situation isn't the best.

[boonelsewhere]

So some reason [which defies reasoning] riverfrontage does not always follow the theme of being more expensive and can many times be even cheaper.

forest, is this only applied to Maine, in Miami the canal front to nowhere will cost 20-30 % more because it is water front.