Relocating back to Maine and living in Presque Isle (Portland: apartment, rentals)

[gracewalker]

My husband and I were born and raised in Maine. We have been away for almost five years living in Atlanta and now the burbs of DC. A job opportunity has come up in Presque Isle now and wondering what it's like there. We grew up in So. Maine or Mid-Coast Maine, so moving to the County is a little unknown for us. In Va. we are enjoying great schools, shopping galore, and many choices...but it is amazingly expensive. We are interested in finding out more about PI and have heard a little about Fort Fairfield. Someone said on here that FF was better for families/kids. If someone knows more about that, I'd love to hear. And what are the impressions/thoughts of the two school systems? Any info will be helpful seeing how No. Maine is really a different world from So. and Mid-Coastal Maine. What is the housing market like? What are the rentals like?

[dramamama6685]

Sorry, I'm not a native Maineah, but there are tons of folks on here who will have info for you. Welcome to the Maine forums!

[Mainer61]

I am from the midcoast. The Camden/Rockport school system is excellent, there are jobs, a good hospital, and shopping. Salaries are not as good as Portland, but certainly ahead of Downeast (by a long shot) and Northern Maine. Taxes aren't terrible, either.

We've looked at places in Presque Isle and Fort Fairfield (my husband is from there). Taxes are high. I have heard the PI school system is very good and there is shopping. I have no idea what their medical center is like. I would be concerned about oil prices for this winter....it is much colder in Northern Maine than elsewhere...usually.

I have been looking at house rentals in Presque Isle in the past 2 weeks...WOW...The prices were pretty high because it's a college town and a couple of kids will chip in and rent a house. Let's see, I found one with a cesspool....GROSS...and the others were around $1200.00 per month plus oil and utilities. Oil could run $5,000 if it goes to $5 per gallon. A one bedroom apartment in PI (with washer and dryer) was $900.00. I couldn't believe it.

[Maineah]

Presque Isle is a nice place to visit.
I could not imagine living there. Talk about the middle of nowhere, and what Mainer61 says is spot on about the rents up there.
I like to visit PI and stay there every fall. It's pretty and the spud fields are impressive. But it's real farm country where they roll up the sidewalks at 6:00 PM and everyone in town gets up at 4:00 AM. The last time I was there they were mowing the lawn at the cemetary across from my motel at 6:30 in the morning and looking to make up the room at 7:30 AM. We went to breakfast at 9:00 AM and they were just about DONE serving breakfast for the day! Their days start way too early for me!
Outside of a Wal-Mart and Lowe's there isn't much for shopping oppurtunities. If that's what you're in to.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

That's the way it is everywhere above the Volvo Line. Our local restaurant opens at 4 Am and it's full when it opens. People come in for a snack around 9:30 after they have been working for 4 hours. I would say the home prices should be lower in Fort Fairfield than PI. It's closer to the old Limestone base and there are employment opportunities there. Many employers routinely have a drug test as part of the pre-employment testing. Some employers have a hard time finding somebody who can pass the test.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

That's the way it is everywhere above the Volvo Line. Our local restaurant opens at 4 Am and it's full when it opens. People come in for a snack around 9:30 after they have been working for 4 hours. I would say the home prices should be lower in Fort Fairfield than PI. It's closer to the old Limestone base and there are employment opportunities there. Many employers routinely have a drug test as part of the pre-employment testing. Some employers have a hard time finding somebody who can pass the test.

"Early to rise and early in the sack...Thank God I'm a Country Boy!! Yee Haw!! You can have it! Down here in Normalville restaurants serve breakfast until noon and serve dinner until 10:00 PM. We have Cabaret's and bars that stay open until 1:00 AM! People STAY UP until 4:00 AM! Personally I feel violated if I have to get up before 9:00 AM! Maybe it should be renamed the civilization line instead of the Volvo Line!!

[Mainer61]

OMG, you guys are funny. I've checked out home prices...there are some modulars with only 5-10 acres and they want $375K + Give me a break..Fort Fairfield's prices aren't that much lower than PI, either. I just saw a home today in FF for around $250K...who pays those prices up there??

[RANGER.101ST]

Originally Posted by Maineah

"Early to rise and early in the sack...Thank God I'm a Country Boy!! Yee Haw!! You can have it! Down here in Normalville restaurants serve breakfast until noon and serve dinner until 10:00 PM. We have Cabaret's and bars that stay open until 1:00 AM! People STAY UP until 4:00 AM! Personally I feel violated if I have to get up before 9:00 AM! Maybe it should be renamed the civilization line instead of the Volvo Line!!

9:00 am come on!! your telling me if i showed up at 4 am with the boat to go fishing you would lay in bed till 9.

[moughie]

Originally Posted by RANGER.101ST

9:00 am come on!! your telling me if i showed up at 4 am with the boat to go fishing you would lay in bed till 9.

Maybe you could entice him with a cooler full of beer

[island mermaid]

Originally Posted by RANGER.101ST

9:00 am come on!! your telling me if i showed up at 4 am with the boat to go fishing you would lay in bed till 9.

I think hunting / fishing and the air show are the only exceptions. I couldn't even lure him out with the thought of fresh warm donuts.