Can the Middle Class Make it in Maine? (Orono, Old Town: apartments, vehicle registration)

[sulliborch]

Originally Posted by AllAboutME

Apology accepted.

I do want to read other opinions, especially dissenting ones, because I'd love to be proved wrong. It's just a sore spot because, I know you can't tell from here, I've been working my <bleep> off to find the right (affordable-not-crumbling-or-next-to-a-meth-house) place. I'm not being picky in my housing search, either. You'll just have to take my word on this.

Association fees are those assessed by some housing developments, usually a monthly fee to help maintain common areas. I was looking in Waterboro and while there were many houses I could afford, they were in a new development with those fees....not to mention a bunch of busybodies having a say on what you can or can't do inside your home! That's not my thing.

You say you live in So Po...have you seen that red house on Highland for sale? It's a one bedroom house, looks like it's falling apart. I think it's listed at $209,000. For a one bedroom piece of <bleep>!

A rail would be GREAT, and much better on the enviroment!

I have been reading these threads and wanted to give my input. My wife and I are building a house in Waterboro (Lake Arrowhead) that is 3 Bdrm 2.5 Bth on 1/2 acre lot w/ 1 car garage. We are not even spending $185K ($2K or less in Real Estate taxes), and yes there are association fees (less than $100 month). We are moving from the South Shore of Massachusetts. The reason to move to Maine was that we honestly could not afford a home in Massachuetts. We could not even find a decent "handyman" for under $275K that would not need at least another $15K in work (does not include the $3K - $4K in real estate taxes). I will be commuting to Boston on the DownEaster for a trip of approx 2hrs 45min each way (my old commute was 2hrs each way). By us moving to Maine she will now be able to be a "stay-at-home" mom if she chooses, rather than a "must-work-no-matter-what" mom in Massachusetts.
Now yes I have looked at the jobs in Maine. There are jobs available in my field, but would be about a 50% pay cut. For everything we are getting I am willing to sacrifice on the commute time (will be approx 1hr later coming home).

[patsfan]

I commend you for you willingness to provide for your family so you wife can be a stay at home mom. I hope in the future you can find something closer to home.

[forest beekeeper]

I am sure that you will.

[sulliborch]

Originally Posted by patsfan

I commend you for you willingness to provide for your family so you wife can be a stay at home mom. I hope in the future you can find something closer to home.

Finding the work is not the issue. Finding the pay that I am used to, now that is the issue.

[patsfan]

Yes pay is lower here, most of the people I know that became successful money wise have moved to Mass. Some weren't successful at all when you look at the bigger picture. But they did have money. My husband and I decided to stay here to be close to family and have a quieter life style. When my daughter got older everyone tried to convince her and her husband to move to Mass. for a better income. When they considered the cost of housing they decided they would rather not leave Maine. I think you have the best of both worlds for as long as you can commute.

[horsewizard]

AllAboutME, I agree with you. Middle class people can't make it which is why we are moving after my father's family "founded" the 'Port, we are all leaving. We have our house, our family, our old cars, and that's it. Nothing exciting. And to the person who said Maine's taxes are about even... check your resources. Maine is horrible. I pay $498 a year to register my used, older truck. i will be pay $138 in North Carolina. My sister lives in Tennessee and pays $28 a year to register her brand new mini-van. Property taxes, excise taxes, income taxes, everything are worse here.

[mainebrokerman]

498 to register a used older truck????
i have a lincoln continental, and pay 125, my property taxes in a town outside of augusta is only 750 a yr, i can throw a rock from my deck to the lake in front of the house.
yes, i despise, paying taxes, but thats the 800 lb gorilla of government, always trying to get more to feed the gorilla. where is the outcry, to cut government spending??
we complain and complain, but mainers continuously vote in the tax and spend politicians.
do we participate in town meetings?? to curb spending?? no most of us dont!

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by patsfan

Yes pay is lower here, most of the people I know that became successful money wise have moved to Mass. Some weren't successful at all when you look at the bigger picture. But they did have money. My husband and I decided to stay here to be close to family and have a quieter life style. When my daughter got older everyone tried to convince her and her husband to move to Mass. for a better income. When they considered the cost of housing they decided they would rather not leave Maine. I think you have the best of both worlds for as long as you can commute.

Now I see folks moving to Maine, knowing that they will likely take lower salaries. But it is well worth it.

I came here on a pension.

$35k bought me 42 acres of forest on a river, we love it.

This is a great location for pensioners, and really anyone who desires to leave the 'rat-race'. Maybe live a 'simpler' lifestyle.

[ontheroad]

Can pensioners live in a small town like Belfast? Although your part of Maine sounds beautiful, I would be lost in rural Maine?

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

Now I see folks moving to Maine, knowing that they will likely take lower salaries. But it is well worth it.

I came here on a pension.

$35k bought me 42 acres of forest on a river, we love it.

This is a great location for pensioners, and really anyone who desires to leave the 'rat-race'. Maybe live a 'simpler' lifestyle.

[ontheroad]

How is it possible to have such a great disparity between two towns in Maine for car registration?

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

498 to register a used older truck????
i have a lincoln continental, and pay 125, my property taxes in a town outside of augusta is only 750 a yr, i can throw a rock from my deck to the lake in front of the house.
yes, i despise, paying taxes, but thats the 800 lb gorilla of government, always trying to get more to feed the gorilla. where is the outcry, to cut government spending??
we complain and complain, but mainers continuously vote in the tax and spend politicians.
do we participate in town meetings?? to curb spending?? no most of us dont!