Year round living in Maine. (Brunswick, Bath: sales, real estate market, insurance)

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by october2007

I hate the idea of having to own a car. I’ve always lived in cities and never needed one. I thought about moving to central Virginia. But I think I prefer Maine as I’m originally from New England and I’m homesick. Ideally it would be nice to live somewhere where you could walk to a few things and then have a car when you need to go farther. Good luck with whatever you end up doing.

Maine isn't overflowing with public transportation options, but there are inexpensive local bus and van services operating on scheduled routes in select larger towns and cities.

For example, these guys run a van loop in Belfast and another in Rockland:
https://midcoastpublictransportation.org/index.php

And these guys run several routes in and around Bangor:
https://www.bangormaine.gov/mapsandroutes

And these guys run a couple of loops in Brunswick:
http://brunswickexplorer.org/

Sadly, if you want to live within easy walking distance of a nice, walkable downtown commercial district, you will normally pay a significant premium for that.

[october2007]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

Maine isn't overflowing with public transportation options, but there are inexpensive local bus and van services operating on scheduled routes in select larger towns and cities.

For example, these guys run a van loop in Belfast and another in Rockland:
https://midcoastpublictransportation.org/index.php

And these guys run several routes in and around Bangor:
https://www.bangormaine.gov/mapsandroutes

And these guys run a couple of loops in Brunswick:
Brunswick Explorer Home

Sadly, if you want to live within easy walking distance of a nice, walkable downtown commercial district, you will normally pay a significant premium for that.

Thanks for the info! Well I think a car might be nice as I get older. I've spent so much time waiting for buses....

[YorktownGal]

Well, here is my update

My house was listed last week! I went to visit my children in DC for this week. This way my broker could show the house without worrying about my schedule.

Sounds like a good plan? Not!

I've lived in this house for 14 years. My backyard is surrounded by dense woods which hides the fully fenced garden.
During those 14 years, a chipmunk or two has taken bites out of my tomatoes, but no person or animal has stolen whole green tomatoes.

Some person stolen 30 plus still green tomatoes from my vines. Every single tomato is gone. In addition, my peppers are gone - even my spicy purple pepper plant has been picked clean.

I seriously doubt my neighbors would do this - after all they never stolen a tomato before.

That leaves my 14 people who came to view my house. I doubt they did this while viewing my house with the realtor present. I am guess that some A-hole from NYC came back after a showing and stolen them.

I am really hating New York now.

When I get to Maine, I'm buying guns to defend my tomatoes and peppers. I am so upset, I am only half joking.

[mainebrokerman]

Very interesting replies.

My sister and brother in law are up from
Rhode Island ....
he says it’s a different world up here
We’ve had family gatherings and no one is wearing
A mask .. and it’s not all doom and gloom
Maine has only 400 active cases less than 1/10
Of 1% ( active cases)

Maine needs people you all are welcome
I’ve lived. The last 28 yrs within 15 miles
Of the state capital and can leave my front door unlocked
Cars unlocked never had a problem

I love Maine .., love where I live
Have turned down higher paying jobs
Out of state ..,, I like my peace of mind
My new lady moved up here
From a southern state and loves it
Didn’t really complain about winter
She’s just astounded at some people
Leave there cars running while going in a store
Or leave garage doors open over night
And traffic ... is like driving thru mayberry
She loves the much safer and simpler lifestyle
Loves the coast. Loves the mountains of
Western Maine

[AustinB]

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

Very interesting replies.

My sister and brother in law are up from
Rhode Island ....
he says it’s a different world up here
We’ve had family gatherings and no one is wearing
A mask .. and it’s not all doom and gloom
Maine has only 400 active cases less than 1/10
Of 1% ( active cases)

Maine needs people you all are welcome
I’ve lived. The last 28 yrs within 15 miles
Of the state capital and can leave my front door unlocked
Cars unlocked never had a problem

I love Maine .., love where I live
Have turned down higher paying jobs
Out of state ..,, I like my peace of mind
My new lady moved up here
From a southern state and loves it
Didn’t really complain about winter
She’s just astounded at some people
Leave there cars running while going in a store
Or leave garage doors open over night
And traffic ... is like driving thru mayberry
She loves the much safer and simpler lifestyle
Loves the coast. Loves the mountains of
Western Maine

Lately, I've taken to leaving my car running when I go into stores. I leave the ac on and the two German Shepherds and the retriever in the car. Nobody bothers it. Very polite people.

[YorktownGal]

After our tomato issue, we received three offers in a week. We picked the best offer. They did a home inspection. Their inspector said our home was in the top 5% best houses he's inspected this year. Yay!

Then they got cold feet about leaving NYC and back out.

Our realtor is contacting the other potential buyers.

Ugh!

[karen_in_nh_2012]

Originally Posted by YorktownGal

After our tomato issue, we received three offers in a week. We picked the best offer. They did a home inspection. Their inspector said our home was in the top 5% best houses he's inspected this year. Yay!

Then they got cold feet about leaving NYC and back out.

Our realtor is contacting the other potential buyers.

Ugh!

UGH!!! I hope you at least got to keep their earnest money as compensation for them just changing their minds. I'd be pretty pissed off.

I wish you luck with one of the back-up offers!

[masssachoicetts]

Are there a lot of New Yorkers moving up to Maine?

[YorktownGal]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

Are there a lot of New Yorkers moving up to Maine?

Well, I am!

It doesn't make sense to keep paying New York property taxes in retirement.

Many New Yorkers go south - Florida, North/South Carolina, Tennessee, Delaware or Pennsylvania for lower taxes and cheaper home prices.

I also think in Westchester, there is a definite fear that NYC chaos/riots could spread upward. More people are talking about leaving New York and about purchasing guns.

I don't have evidence, but some New Yorkers are looking to move north to Maine or out west to Wyoming, Oregon, Idaho, the Dakota's. etc. These states are viewed as more stable.

[svband76]

Originally Posted by AustinB

Lately, I've taken to leaving my car running when I go into stores. I leave the ac on and the two German Shepherds and the retriever in the car. Nobody bothers it. Very polite people.

The way life should be? (I couldn't resist!)