I need some honest opinions (Bangor, Eastport: apartment, house, buy)

[Northern Maine Land Man]

1) Is Maine a low pay, high cost of living state like Vermont.

W have the highest per capita tax burden in the entire nation

2) If I wanted to consider a career change, what industry in Maine is still experiencing growth even in these tight economic times.

I don't know of any except self employment.

I have no knowledge about urban commuting.

4) Is renting expensive in maine as it is eveywhere else?

Maine has the highest rate of home ownership in the entire nation. The flip side of that is rentals are scarce except for Section 8 housing and housing for the elderly and handicapped.

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by leedspaddy

My questions:
1) Is Maine a low pay, high cost of living state like Vermont.
2) If I wanted to consider a career change, what industry in Maine is still experiencing growth even in these tight economic times.
3) One thing I am curious about is this.......are there people who live in Southern Maine who commute to areas such as Northern Mass for jobs. Is it something that is legitimately feasible?
4) Is renting expensive in maine as it is eveywhere else?
.

1.----I believe Maine is a low paying state...but not necessarily for the same jobs located elsewhere...it's just that Maine doesn't have many high paying professional jobs...open up the want adds and you'll see some healthcare and a couple of professional jobs...but then mostly low paying entry level jobs, call centers, truck drivers, retail ect. You could always get a job with the state or municipalities....they tend to pay the best....which explains Maine's tax structure.

2.---- GOVERNMENT! In maine...if your not employed by the governement, then the person next to you is!...I rest my case.

3.---- Absolutely, but I think you'll find most of them have very good jobs that they do not want to give up...and then maybe they moved to Maine while already working in Boston. I can't imagine there are many who are looking for work in Ma.....if it were me....I'd just move to Mass.

4.---- that really depends "WHERE" you rent. I own rentals in Lewiston...they are much lower than portland....but I think an important observation is that renting is still much cheaper than owning...

[leedspaddy]

Originally Posted by Acadianlion

From everything that you have said, you are really looking to move to Masschusetts, somewhere within short commute to Boston. The medical services there are among the best in the world, and the population density will enable you to have a fighting chance at landing a job that will support you.

It is said often, but people don't seem to listen or understand that Maine is a very large state considering other states in New England, yet we have only 1.2 million people in the entire state. That is a VERY small population base to support much of an economy, so unless you have a lot working for you when you come here, and quite a lot of money to support you during the transition, you will find it extremely difficult to locate and settle in if you are also working on a significant medical need.

Well after doing a little research and taking into account people's opinion, I have to admit that a move close to Boston is probably the way to go. As much as I loved Vermont and as much as I would have killed to live in Maine, I don't want a repeat of my terrible Vermont experience where decent jobs were few and far between. I had a great job in Vermont, but when it came to an end, it was a real eye opener when I realised that there were very few similar jobs to the one I had. At the end of the day, I have to move to an area where my wife and children will get the best medical treatment for their bleeding disorders and I can support them with a reasonable job.

I would prefer not to live in Mass as I hear it is the most expensive state in New England.............with the exception of Fairfield county in Connecticut. So I am going to concentrate on NH and RI..........places where i can easily get to Boston if need be...............NH would be better as it is right next door to my favorite state.

Thanks everyone for your candid replies. I appreciate it.

cheers

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by leedspaddy

Well after doing a little research and taking into account people's opinion, I have to admit that a move close to Boston is probably the way to go. As much as I loved Vermont and as much as I would have killed to live in Maine, I don't want a repeat of my terrible Vermont experience where decent jobs were few and far between. I had a great job in Vermont, but when it came to an end, it was a real eye opener when I realised that there were very few similar jobs to the one I had. At the end of the day, I have to move to an area where my wife and children will get the best medical treatment for their bleeding disorders and I can support them with a reasonable job.

I would prefer not to live in Mass as I hear it is the most expensive state in New England.............with the exception of Fairfield county in Connecticut. So I am going to concentrate on NH and RI..........places where i can easily get to Boston if need be...............NH would be better as it is right next door to my favorite state.

Thanks everyone for your candid replies. I appreciate it.

cheers

I wouldn't write mass off....too many peopel have preconcieved notions about it....there are many cities I wouldn't want to live in.....but A LOT of the towns outside of Boston have such a nice new england village feel to them....very walkable, great schools, extremely low crime, ect.

And as far as expensive........yes you will pay a lot for your home...but your home will always increase in value, you will be able to sell it when you want too, and just about "everything" else is cheaper. accept car insurance...but income taxes, property taxes, excise taxes, food, gas,.....ect ect... is all CHEAPER in mass. Don't be fooled. good luck

Oh....and since I am most familiar with eastern ma....I will suggest looking around North attleborough and plainville.....I personally like walpole, foxborough, medfield ect but they are more expensive..

[Zymer]

Originally Posted by leedspaddy

I would prefer not to live in Mass as I hear it is the most expensive state in New England.............with the exception of Fairfield county in Connecticut. So I am going to concentrate on NH and RI..........places where i can easily get to Boston if need be...............NH would be better as it is right next door to my favorite state.

Take my house...please. It's 13 miles north of Boston, 1/4 acre, less than 2 miles to the MBTA commuter rail and taxes are only 2400/yr...for now anyway (thank goodness we managed to get that $50MM new library plan scrapped!).

Originally Posted by flycessna

I wouldn't write mass off....too many peopel have preconcieved notions about it....there are many cities I wouldn't want to live in.....but A LOT of the towns outside of Boston have such a nice new england village feel to them....very walkable, great schools, extremely low crime, ect.

And as far as expensive........yes you will pay a lot for your home...but your home will always increase in value, you will be able to sell it when you want too, and just about "everything" else is cheaper. accept car insurance...but income taxes, property taxes, excise taxes, food, gas,.....ect ect... is all CHEAPER in mass. Don't be fooled.

Sell your house when you want to? I'd be willing to let my MA house go "cheap", only $150k, but no one is buying. There are literally *dozens* of houses for sale within a mile of mine, many have been on the listing for more than a year, and some have been foreclosed and are sitting vacant.

I'll concede the lower excise tax, but the property tax? LOL! My ME house is 70 years newer, 50% larger (plus a BIG garage, space for 2 vehicles AND plenty of room left for a workshop) with 80 times as much land- and the prop tax is LOWER.

Oh, and the lower auto insurance rate offsets the higher excise rate by a factor of 8. (That might be a little different if I had a newer vehicle, but I wouldn't know by how much.)

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by Zymer

Sell your house when you want to? I'd be willing to let my MA house go "cheap", only $150k, but no one is buying. There are literally *dozens* of houses for sale within a mile of mine, many have been on the listing for more than a year, and some have been foreclosed and are sitting vacant.

I'll concede the lower excise tax, but the property tax? LOL! My ME house is 70 years newer, 50% larger (plus a BIG garage, space for 2 vehicles AND plenty of room left for a workshop) with 80 times as much land- and the prop tax is LOWER.

Oh, and the lower auto insurance rate offsets the higher excise rate by a factor of 8. (That might be a little different if I had a newer vehicle, but I wouldn't know by how much.)

everything is subjective.......what do you want....what kind of work do you need.....what are your experiences

Where are you in Ma??

This housing slump is affecting everyone.....What I meant was that places like Boston and vicinity will overall experience a better market.....your house in Maine could sit on the market even when things are good recent numbers are already showing the boston market is turning around.

In auburn maine my taxes are 4k for a house worth 200k....I know my prop taxes would be about the same in Ma because of the more I spend on the house but the mil rates are lower....at least apples to apples....I would never consider living in the small towns of Maine....it's just not for me...I very much like the suburban feel of the affluant towns outside of Boston...very clean, picturesque, ect.

Car insurance it's a scam not bad when you get old...but get one ticket or get into and accident the surcharges will kill ya

In Ma, for the right person...they will make way more money over their lifetime...there will be more opportunities to raise your children in the better envrioment with a better education, and for them to actually stay in the area and do the same...come retirement you will have much more of a nest egg in your home and in your bank account...

But ultimately...it depends on what you want..I just think Ma gets a bad rap. I've met many people who came to Maine to make a go of it and ended up back in Ma...but then I have expereieced the same from Mainers who have left to only come back for less money because they missed Maine so much.

[mollysmiles]

You know I just have to say, and leeds I'm not picking on you at all here, really. I laugh every time I read the title of this thread.... "I need some honest opinions" because when are we ever at a loss as to provide that? sorry, just had to share that.... and I've had too much coffee so I'm a bit silly on top of how silly I normally am....

back to the topic at hand

[Newdaawn]

Try to find a house in Walpole for under $350K - not possible. The house I grew up in - in that town - sold a couple years ago for a bit over that. It was small 2 bedroom with one bath. One good feature is that its on an acre of land.

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by Newdaawn

Try to find a house in Walpole for under $350K - not possible. The house I grew up in - in that town - sold a couple years ago for a bit over that. It was small 2 bedroom with one bath. One good feature is that its on an acre of land.

It could be worse........you could try to find a house in Westwood for 350k

I know.....its expensive........but so isn't portland, cape elizabeth, and scarborough...and you still won't find as nice of a community as walpole, westwood, or sharon....I'd bet the crime is lower too.. ect...so for me, If your gonna live in Portland vicinity and work there...and you have the education or job skills.....go to a place like walpole, Westwood, sharon ect.....you'll be happier. And after the purchase of your home and car ins!!! everything else will be cheaper.


If you want to live in Northern Maine and be self suffecient, away from the hustle and bustle and basically all the bs...then do that its all good!

[dramamama6685]

Originally Posted by Newdaawn

Try to find a house in Walpole for under $350K - not possible. The house I grew up in - in that town - sold a couple years ago for a bit over that. It was small 2 bedroom with one bath. One good feature is that its on an acre of land.

It's a darn shame.. houses aren't going for that here. For the record, mine is a 2 bdrm, 1 bath... with that kind of cash.. we could be up the moment the kid is outta college.

Can you picture her graduation day, "We are so proud of you, honey. Now hop in the car so you can come back and get the rest of you crap because the Penske truck is loaded and we're due in Eastport in less than a day!!!"