Calais area ? (Bangor, Brunswick, Eastport: for sale, to rent, how much)

[diablogun]

Hi folks,
I am considering a job offer in Calais; I have been reading all of your informative posts, but can't get much about this area. My prospective job is with the federal government, and I'm wondering, is this a great area to live? And if so, where would one find a house to rent in the area to settle in before buying? Any information you nice people would have is much appreciated, for a long time I have wanted to live in Maine and may finally get the chance :-)
By the way, I am flying up there in a few weeks with the wife to see the area firsthand, but what I've researched online makes it look quite nice.
Thank you again.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Calais is the economic center for Eastern Maine. They have a good business infrastructure, good hospital and great opportunities for outdoor recreation. You have fresh water and salt water fishing within minutes of each other. Fall fishing in salt water is very good. You can fill your freezer with fresh fillets.

Talk with local fishermen and keep an eye on the tides and weather. We have strong currents. A good marine radio can be found for under $100 at Hamilton Marine in Maine.

http://store.hamiltonmarine.com/browse.cfm/4,785.html

[diablogun]

Thanks for the information; the wife loves fish, so we will definitely be filling up on the fillets :-)

[Maine Writer]

We're a friendly bunch. There's never a lack of things to do. If you enjoy the outdoors you'll love the seasons. There are very few days a year we can't go outside. We might need a snow shovel or a rain coat some days but that's ok. The hospital is small and nice. The town (it gets called a city but it's really not) is nice. There's room for growth and business potential. There are minimal shopping choices. We go to Bangor for most of that.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Hey, Calais has a building supply place, a Walmart, some car dealers and a Mardens. What else does a guy need?

[AustinB]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

Hey, Calais has a building supply place, a Walmart, some car dealers and a Mardens. What else does a guy need?

A dollar store and a couple of really neat hardware stores. Eastport has a great hardware store also.

[diablogun]

How about housing prices? I've looked on the MLS, and there are about 50 properties in Calais, does anyone know what a new build-either stick built or modular would go for about 1900 sf on maybe 1/4 acre? Any input you may have is much appreciated :-)

[AustinB]

Originally Posted by diablogun

How about housing prices? I've looked on the MLS, and there are about 50 properties in Calais, does anyone know what a new build-either stick built or modular would go for about 1900 sf on maybe 1/4 acre? Any input you may have is much appreciated :-)

Don't look just in Calais. The surrounding towns are nice and not too far from anywhere you would be working in town. Why settle for just an in town city lot? Housing prices are relatively low and some of the places are 'cheap'. Good starter homes.

[peachie_in_maine]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

We're a friendly bunch. There's never a lack of things to do. If you enjoy the outdoors you'll love the seasons. There are very few days a year we can't go outside. We might need a snow shovel or a rain coat some days but that's ok. The hospital is small and nice. The town (it gets called a city but it's really not) is nice. There's room for growth and business potential. There are minimal shopping choices. We go to Bangor for most of that.

We are "cozy" but we have learned that a drive will get the bigger things we need, and the cost for living in this area saves us with the higher costs.
We went to Saint John New Brunswick Canada yesterday and got alot things we wanted and needed. It's a nice place to visit, but it's great to be home.

Originally Posted by AustinB

Don't look just in Calais. The surrounding towns are nice and not too far from anywhere you would be working in town. Why settle for just an in town city lot? Housing prices are relatively low and some of the places are 'cheap'. Good starter homes.

Exactly, I'm a 15 minute drive out of Calais and I pay very reasonable taxes and my home (not quite 20 yrs old 3 bedroom for an acre was 42000.00 and I am only a walk from the lake. So... outside the area is always nicer.

[mollysmiles]

There is a beautiful newer Cape Style modular home for sale in Robbinston (the owners are moving out of state to help older family members) but I have no idea of the price---if I thought at all that we could swing a third piece of property I'd look into that! It overlooks the water, sits up on a small hill....ok, enough of that....

I would *love* to live out of Calais and in either Robbinston or Perry (and then the kids would be @ Calais High School).....and I think of that until I remember how much driving back and forth and shuttling that would be--for play dates and for rec activities---so for now we're in town. Our good friends (one of whom is also a "federal employee" LOL--sorry but that was funny, like we didn't know *where*) lives in Robbinston and makes the drive to work. He really enjoys it....it's just enough time to sort of change gears and let go of work a bit. Anyway, in looking at housing prices for the area you will find a wide range... the less expensive is not always the better deal, nor are the newer modular homes. There is a lot to be said for a 150 year old home that's been updated and has weathered the winters and storms vs a ranch style modular with none of that "New England" character and hasn't been through a few seasons.