Want to move to Camden, need advice on rent and employment (Waterville: appointed, for sale)

[kadams1965]

Hello everyone. My family is in the process of moving back to the States after living in the UK for the past 8 years. This is no easy task! My huband is British, I'm originally from Mass. We are hoping to get everything in order to fly home the 2nd week of September. Originally we were going to go to Maine, but then I panicked and we are going back to Mass to start with. Why did I panic? Well, first off, we don't have a lot of money and will need to rent. I don't know how to go about getting a place to rent before we are even there. Secondly, I am worried about finding work. Both my husband and I have worked as administrative assistants. I am an experienced medical receptionist and my husband is brilliant with computer stuff, but we don't necessarily need or want to get back into those types of jobs, we are open to just about anything that will bring in enough income to support our family and live a happy life. Thirdly, I have two little boys 6 and 4 and need to get them into school asap. Connor the 6 yo will be starting year 2 over here, whereas in the States kids his age are only starting 1st grade. Tucker aged 4 is in prekindergarten over here and would be starting full time in January if we were staying.

So, any advice on how to get a place to rent, keeping in mind we have just about nothing as far as furnishings, etc.; schools; and how to get a job would be greatly appreciated.

My Mom sent me the book "Moving to Maine" and the more I read, the more I know it is the place we should be and raise our boys.

Thank you,

Karen

[dmyankee]

You have a lot of homework to do, as well as any family considering a permanent move to Maine. If you are expecting to just move anywhere near Camden without jobs and a huge nest egg, you might be disappointed. The job market is tough most anywhere. Year 'round rentals will be scarce. Read through some other relocation posts and you will get a better understanding of the area.

[Mainer61]

Camden/Rockport has an excellent school system--great teachers. My daughter graduated in 2007 and had a very good experience there. There are plenty of houses for sale in the area and prices have dropped a lot...don't be afraid to make a low offer (if you decide to buy a place). I'm not sure about rentals. Check with Pen Bay Medical Center for a job...should be plentiful there. Good luck!

[Acadianlion]

Originally Posted by kadams1965

Hello everyone. My family is in the process of moving back to the States after living in the UK for the past 8 years. This is no easy task! My huband is British, I'm originally from Mass. We are hoping to get everything in order to fly home the 2nd week of September. Originally we were going to go to Maine, but then I panicked and we are going back to Mass to start with. Why did I panic? Well, first off, we don't have a lot of money and will need to rent. I don't know how to go about getting a place to rent before we are even there. Secondly, I am worried about finding work. Both my husband and I have worked as administrative assistants. I am an experienced medical receptionist and my husband is brilliant with computer stuff, but we don't necessarily need or want to get back into those types of jobs, we are open to just about anything that will bring in enough income to support our family and live a happy life. Thirdly, I have two little boys 6 and 4 and need to get them into school asap. Connor the 6 yo will be starting year 2 over here, whereas in the States kids his age are only starting 1st grade. Tucker aged 4 is in prekindergarten over here and would be starting full time in January if we were staying.

So, any advice on how to get a place to rent, keeping in mind we have just about nothing as far as furnishings, etc.; schools; and how to get a job would be greatly appreciated.

My Mom sent me the book "Moving to Maine" and the more I read, the more I know it is the place we should be and raise our boys.

Thank you,

Karen

You have no idea how small the Maine economy is. Maine has 1.2 million people in the whole state, and the vast majority are scattered over an area that is larger than ALL the rest of New England combined.

Camden is one of the most expensive regions in New England to live. There are lots of other little towns that are not as expensive, but in order to put it into perspective, if you are familiar with Massachusetts, think of Camden in the same general terms as you think of Osterville, and you have the right "neighborhood". A lot of people who are from Massachusetts think of Maine as a quaint, inexpensive little backwater to play in. It isn't: Maine coastal real estate is EXPENSIVE, like Cape Cod, and Camden is the "high rent" district.

There is some opportunity for you to work in the greater mid-coast area, as there is pretty much throughout Maine. But an "experienced" medical receptionist will likely earn relatively little in comparison to what it will cost to live.

I think that before you even fantasize about living in Maine, that you move back here, move in with Mom, and then spend a LOT of time traveling to and roaming around in Maine. I think you are two years at best from being ready to make a decision about moving to Maine.

As the previous poster said, "You have a LOT of research to do." And a lot of that can only be done with your "boots on the ground".

[kadams1965]

Thanks for the replys so far. I'm not ignorant going into this, I have spent a fair amount of time in Maine on vacations over the years and travelled quite a bit around the state. Dogs years ago we went up to Waterville for my dh at the time to have a job interview and we loved some of the areas we went to. We got a relocation package from Camden and yes year round rentals do seem to be few and far between. There were, however plenty of jobs to be had if you aren't picky about what you do. I'm not adverse to a bit of hard work, that's for sure. Camden is my Mom's fault. She is working for a lady who used to live there and still has a camp up there. I also like the Belfast area. I'm 43 and been through a hell of a lot the past few years and really just want to live where getting to the coast is not an unreasonable ride.

[mollysmiles]

great posts dmyankee and acadianlion! very good advice Karen depending on where you'll be living in Mass this could afford you opportunities to visit Maine often and do some legwork of your own Hope all works out well for you!

[Mainer61]

Keep checking out the midcoast. Actually, Belfast has become a lot pricier recently (except for gasoline) than Rockport/Rockland. You won't want to go too far east (Bar Harbor) as it would be unaffordable. I grew up in Rockland and lived in Rockport for 27 years....still working there. It's a beautiful area and jobs aren't hard to find.

[Fife]

Originally Posted by kadams1965

Hello everyone. My family is in the process of moving back to the States after living in the UK for the past 8 years. This is no easy task! My huband is British, I'm originally from Mass. We are hoping to get everything in order to fly home the 2nd week of September. Originally we were going to go to Maine, but then I panicked and we are going back to Mass to start with. Why did I panic? Well, first off, we don't have a lot of money and will need to rent. I don't know how to go about getting a place to rent before we are even there. Secondly, I am worried about finding work. Both my husband and I have worked as administrative assistants. I am an experienced medical receptionist and my husband is brilliant with computer stuff, but we don't necessarily need or want to get back into those types of jobs, we are open to just about anything that will bring in enough income to support our family and live a happy life. Thirdly, I have two little boys 6 and 4 and need to get them into school asap. Connor the 6 yo will be starting year 2 over here, whereas in the States kids his age are only starting 1st grade. Tucker aged 4 is in prekindergarten over here and would be starting full time in January if we were staying.

So, any advice on how to get a place to rent, keeping in mind we have just about nothing as far as furnishings, etc.; schools; and how to get a job would be greatly appreciated.

My Mom sent me the book "Moving to Maine" and the more I read, the more I know it is the place we should be and raise our boys.

Thank you,

Karen

Hi Karen,

I moved across form Scotland to Chicago six years ago. I then moved to Camden, Maine about a year ago. It truly is a beautiful place. But with beauty comes expense.

A good place to look for rentals:

Jaret & Cohn Real Estate - Midcoast Maine Real Estate - Real Estate - Home

In terms of jobs, being a Medical receptionist a good place to start looking would be:

Pen Bay Healthcare

They always have lots of jobs advertised.

Good luck with the move. Let me know if you have anymore questions.

[lovemaine]

Another great site to check for rentals is: http://maine.craigslist.org/apa/. Good luck!

[Maineah]

I worked at a brewery in Camden( which is no longer there)for a number of years and commuted back and forth from Freeport everyday six days a week (WHICH IN HINDSIGHT WAS NUTS BUT GAS WAS CHEAP AND I WAS YOUNGER!). The people who worked in the Brew pub lived generally inland several miles in towns like Hope, Union, Appleton, Warren and places like that. Some of them would rent a coastal apartment in the fall in places like Rockport or Lincolnville though they usually had to move out in May as the rents tripled or quadrupled for the summer season. With two kids I doubt you want to move twice a year just for a five month icy water view. Work and careers are two different things. If you two can make enough on two $8.00/hr 40 hour weeks to live on you can live and work most anywhere you can afford. I'm afraid the $40,000 a year starting salaries in Camden left with MBNA. You pretty much get what you can afford in Maine. Water views can be had for middle income folks way up the coast but travel to viable work is much longer and even marginally affordable places will be a stretch for most working budgets.
Forget the midcoast region From Acadia all the way to Kittery. These places are comparible to The north shore of Boston as Acadionlion stated and will be far out of reach unless you hit the Irish Sweepstakes before you arrive! Most modest houses in these areas start in the $600,000 range ( for a winterized cottage)up to $1,000,000 or more for a larger four bedroom house.