An Idealized Vision of Maine...But I still want to move (Caribou: 2014, health insurance)

[FentonForche]

I mean, I do get your point that housing prices alone don't paint you a very clear picture. Housing price as a multiple of median household income is really the telling metric when it comes to affordability.

In that regard, I think Maine and Denver are somewhat on par with eachother, Maine might be a little pricier. I don't have any numbers crunched to back this up, just a hunch. It's definitely a better deal than this part of California though. If my wife and I were to land equivalent jobs to what we have now, I'm guessing we'd be looking at about a 30-35% pay cut. But I think that we'd be looking at a cut in housing costs that exceeds that.

[MaineMathTCHER]

Since 1992 I knew I had to live in Maine. I had never been there and I did not know how I was going to make the dream come true-but I never stopped thinking about it. At the time I lived in the beach cities of Los Angeles and dreamed of snow covered trees and cool summer nites. I never gave up hope and set a goal that I would be there by 40. A long bumpy road later and I am a Maine resident. I make alot less money, live in a much bigger "old" house, and am happier than I have ever been in my life. I am going on 4 years here and love it. It is a mindset-and this place hits a frequency in me that no other has even hit. I love the seasons, the safety, the people, and the absolute jaw dropping beauty of living RIGHT on the Maine Coast. It is a lifestyle that is not for everyone. Don't expect Starbucks, excellent cell coverage, and lots of shopping variety. But if you want the quiet beauty of a place (mostly northeast Maine) of a land where time has not completely caught up there is no other place. I am a Mainer now (in my heart) and I like it that way!

[FentonForche]

Hey...good to hear your thoughts. If you don't mind me asking, what's the average high school teacher pull down 'round your parts'? I've got the academic qualifications to teach high school social sciences, and have often thought about making the career shift (working as a financial analyst right now).

[DLW007]

Hey there. My husband and I moving to Maine within the next few months. We currently live in western, NY (Rochester). I have lived in NY all my life. My husband was born in NY, raised in FL and also lived in the Boston area for a short while. He was given a very good job opportunity in ME. We love Maine, and would probably move there anyhow! I highly suggest you visit Maine before making any decisions on moving there. Go online and check out housing and the different areas. There aren't too many "urban areas" or major metro cities. Portland and Bangor are probably the closest to big cities you and I would be used to, but they are small in comparison. Portland alone is the same size as the suburb I grew up in here in Rochester! However, this is a good thing to me. This is why I love Maine so much. They believe in bigger is not always better, owning your own business, respecting the Earth, progressive positive thinking and good lobster! We are moving to Rockland/Camden area. Very nice, quaint and a perfect place for a family (we don't have kids yet either, but it's good to know this.) Taxes here are MUCH lower than where we live in NY. Then again NY has crazy high taxes! The people are so very friendly there! The nicest I have encountered...even nicer than Southerners in my opinion. Don't let others discourage you. Good luck!

[OutDoorNut]

Originally Posted by MaineMathTCHER

Since 1992 I knew I had to live in Maine. I . . . . living RIGHT on the Maine Coast.

That's how I feel about moving to Maine.

What county are you in? Seems that many people who post here gravitate toward places like Camden, Rockland, Portland--areas with the most people and activities.

Not what I want--I can't get far enough away from a Starbucks or a theatre or a concert hall.

My aim is toward the more rural coastal areas. (I like forests, fields, and the ocean--and want to live on the edge of both.)

I'd appreciate benefiting from your experience of moving to Maine and buying an older house--if there's any advice you could give me that you learned from your experience.

Thank you!

[WhoFanMe]

Originally Posted by FentonForche

Speaking of home values, though...What's the going rate on a decent 4 bed/2 bath joint in a nice part of Portland or some other smaller city on the southern coast?

In Denver, 150k might get you a 3 bed/2 bath starter in a less desirable but not awful suburb. Out here in Napa, 150k will get you a basic condo or a 2 bed/1 bath 800 square foot shack in an undesirable location.

Over the past 90 Days a fixer upper on Stevens Avenue with 1500 Square Feet sold for $145,000 and a 3500 Square Foot Home on Beacon Street sold for $365,000. For a home that's move in ready with 4 Bedrooms and 2 Baths, you'll find most sell between $250,000 and $350,000. Prices vary in the surrounding neighborhoods and towns.

[MaineMathTCHER]

Originally Posted by OutDoorNut

That's how I feel about moving to Maine.

My aim is toward the more rural coastal areas. (I like forests, fields, and the ocean--and want to live on the edge of both.)

I'd appreciate benefiting from your experience of moving to Maine and buying an older house--if there's any advice you could give me that you learned from your experience.

Thank you!

I live in Washington County-Eastport area. I live on the coast in a small town. Yes it is the poorest (but I think the most lovely county). I went on one interview, got the job, bought the house and changed my life. I love my 1860 maine farmhouse. Yes it is old, but I have beautiful moldings, fireplaces, and land on the water for under a 100K-where can you get that. And I love my job and I know my neighbors-big change from Los Angeles where I made 5 times as much and lived in a tiny cracker box for 2000 a month. It is about a slower pace, more time to enjoy the little things, and you should enjoy snow (I love the stuff). I love the area from Ellsworth to Calais-lots of lovely places!

[OutDoorNut]

Originally Posted by MaineMathTCHER

I live in Washington County-Eastport area. I live on the coast in a small town. Yes it is the poorest (but I think the most lovely county). I went on one interview, got the job, bought the house and changed my life. I love my 1860 maine farmhouse. Yes it is old, but I have beautiful moldings, fireplaces, and land on the water for under a 100K-where can you get that. And I love my job and I know my neighbors-big change from Los Angeles where I made 5 times as much and lived in a tiny cracker box for 2000 a month. It is about a slower pace, more time to enjoy the little things, and you should enjoy snow (I love the stuff). I love the area from Ellsworth to Calais-lots of lovely places!

You do think like me.

Eastport and Lubec are two of many places I've been researching.

But I'm worried about the property crime rate in Eastport--especially burglaries, which statistics indicate are very high for Maine (higher even than New York City's rate--compare: Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitors sites is not allowed ). Statistics show Lubec safer in that regard, although still not the very lowest crime rates in the state.

That's important to me, because I am by myself, and I don't want to worry about someone robbing my house when I'm not home.

The crime rate in many of Washington County's coastal towns is sometime high for Maine, and with the economy getting worse and the continued use of illegal drugs, I'm concerned the crime rate will rise even more.

Other that the crime rate (and what seems to be a growing influx of illegal immigrants in some places), I like many of the towns in W.C. a lot.

But even more important than the crime rate, is access to clear and reliable land-line telephone communications and fast internet (I have my own businesss which I conduct over the net and telephone); and it seems that some or all of Eastport has DSL, at least, I'm not sure about the other towns in W.C.

Is that old house of yours a lot of work? One of the things I like about Maine in addition to its natural wonders, is the abundance of antique homes, which if I have to look at something made by man, I'd rather look at many of those old houses than anything built today.

The archtects and builders in many cases created literal works of art for people to live in.

[msina]

But I'm worried about the property crime rate in Eastport--especially burglaries, which statistics indicate are very high for Maine

This is kinda like comparing apples and oranges. Given the population of Eastport (approx. 1600), 10 thefts and 9 burglaries make the statistics seem high although, it's still 19 crimes TOTAL we're talking about.
Recently there was a double homicide in the town I live in. As the population is currently less than 70 people, that would put the murder rate into the stratosphere. This was a situation in which the assailant knew the victims, a botched robbery.

[FentonForche]

This is a really key point. It's why you see sensationalist headlines like "North Dakota murder rate quadruples year over year!"

Yeah....from 1 to 4. Statistically meaningless when you deal with counts that small.