Thinking about moving to Maine (Portland, Lewiston: flat fee, 2009, insuring)

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by vanessa250

We are moving to Maine and need to be within 20 min of Lisbon Falls can anyone tell me about Auburn? We have 2 children in elementary school and a new baby on the way.
Thanks

having lived in auburn, id highly recommend it, off the auburn exit, is a very nice area, with very nice houses and condo's !!

[bigounets]

My hubby got a job offer near Kittery last week and if he took the offer we'd have to be there in August. We currently live with our two young children near Seattle so it would be a REALLY big move. I've been reading through all the threads and it sounds like Maine is a very nice place to be. I'm just wondering though, since we'd be so close to the NH border if it would be cheaper to live there? I guess since the working place is in ME we'd still have to pay for the ME income tax regardless of where we live.Also, does anyone have any suggestion as to where a nice place to settle would be? My hubby doesn't mind commuting (maybe up to 20/30min). We're looking right now for a 3/4 bedroom house for rent until we know the area better. How much would that cost around there?Also, I've read that Maine has about 5% of its inhabitant that speaks French. Is there any French schools in the area, or are there any French classes available?Thank you all in advance for your help.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Maine should have a much lower cost of living than Seattle. We have good schools, but I hear Seattle does too. NH has high property taxes because they have no income tax or sales tax. If you are going to work in Maine you are better off to live here. If you like living in the country, check on Eliot, any of the Berwicks and Lebanon. It will be difficult to rent a 4 bedroom home by next month. They are scarce. Maine has the highest rate of home ownership in the nation. The flip side of that is that rentals are scarce.

For French schools your best bet would be the Lewiston/Auburn area and the school would be parochial. The Biddeford/Saco area has many French speaking people and it is close to Kittery.

[bigounets]

Thank you Norhern Maine Land Man. Since you mentioned the scarce number of rentals, I'm worried that when we arrive we won't even have a place to stay because of the summer time and all the tourists.
I was told Kennebunk in a nice place to live and half way between the cities. Anyone here lives there or knows the place?

[anotherplebe]

bigounets.
This is my first post , so I know I have limited credibility, But I need to give my opinion as a former Western US native.... I see your from Seattle.

I moved to maine a few years ago with my wife, she has family in Mass. so I thought maine would be an ok place to live... I was Wrong... really Wrong.... I wish I would have spent more time getting to know it before I committed to live here. Now with the economy as poor as it is, we don't have the resources to get out and back out west. The best I can hope for is to die in my sleep.

The East coast (and especially maine) is different from what your used too in WA. and I don't just mean the people, although that's a big part of it... the weather and landscape is vastly different.
I wish you luck and hope you don't suffer.
Seriously... check it out, and have a backup plan. I would rather work at walmart and live in a box in Seattle than live anywhere in maine.

[dramamama6685]

Originally Posted by bigounets

My hubby got a job offer near Kittery last week and if he took the offer we'd have to be there in August. We currently live with our two young children near Seattle so it would be a REALLY big move. I've been reading through all the threads and it sounds like Maine is a very nice place to be. I'm just wondering though, since we'd be so close to the NH border if it would be cheaper to live there? I guess since the working place is in ME we'd still have to pay for the ME income tax regardless of where we live.Also, does anyone have any suggestion as to where a nice place to settle would be? My hubby doesn't mind commuting (maybe up to 20/30min). We're looking right now for a 3/4 bedroom house for rent until we know the area better. How much would that cost around there?Also, I've read that Maine has about 5% of its inhabitant that speaks French. Is there any French schools in the area, or are there any French classes available?Thank you all in advance for your help.

Is there a way you can visit first? Or have you already been out there?

[bigounets]

Wow, Anotherplebe, sorry you're not happy in Maine. Is it just because of the people and the landscape and the weather? It seems like the summers might be similar to those in the Puget Sound. I know that the winters will be much colder but it looks like at least the roads are plowed, not like here where everyone freaks out when a snowflake touches the pavement and all the schools are closed! Are the people so horrible?
Darn, that's a harsh post. What else is so bad that we shouldn't move there?
Dramamama, we've never been to Maine and there's no way we can visit first. My hubby needs to be there by August.

[anotherplebe]

Bigounets


Yeah the post was maybe a little harsh, but actually I held back a bit. I grew up in Ca... lived in NV, MT, OR and have a son living in WA. I have traveled through all of the western states, I thought people and places were mostly the same and that I could adjust to most anything. Well this is a whole different country (planet) compared to what I'm used to and it's been the biggest mistake I've ever made.
*The people are not as out going and at times are just plain strange.
*There is virtually no open space as there is in the west. They think camping here is going to an RV park
*Peoples personal fitness level is a joke... good luck finding a decent gym.
*your cars will rust in two years. Then you can't pass inspection. *The bugs will leave welts all over your arms. Lyme disease is getting bad.
*Lots of snow...Lots.
*very high taxes.
*much more
Yes, there are good people here and some cool things to do, and I think after my depression meds kick in I should be able to settle and try to find some like minded people.
When I see pictures of Utah or the Oregon coast it feels like someone kicked me in the gut. Someday I'll get back there, I just can't right now.
Sorry to be so negative, This is only my experience your mileage may vary.
(climbing into my flame suit now)

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by anotherplebe

... I grew up in Ca... lived in NV, MT, OR and have a son living in WA.

I also grew up in California, and I lived in Washington for a few years.

So it would seem that we might have a few experiences in common.

... I have traveled through all of the western states, I thought people and places were mostly the same and that I could adjust to most anything. Well this is a whole different country (planet) compared to what I'm used to and it's been the biggest mistake I've ever made.

I am saddened to hear that you feel you made a mistake.

... *The people are not as out going and at times are just plain strange.

This is funny

West coast folks are 'normal', and East coast are 'strange' ?

... *There is virtually no open space as there is in the west. They think camping here is going to an RV park

I think this is an urban / rural thing.

... *Peoples personal fitness level is a joke... good luck finding a decent gym.

*your cars will rust in two years. Then you can't pass inspection.

I guess my 20 year old cars are just out of luck then.

We have lived in Maine for 4 years, how many years until we see this issue?

... *The bugs will leave welts all over your arms. Lyme disease is getting bad.

I knew a guy once in the 80s that got lyme disease.

... *Lots of snow...Lots.

Ain't it great!

... *very high taxes.

This is exactly the opposite of our experiences in Maine.

umm, mm, have you seen the taxes in California or Washington? Lately?

I have owned homes in both of those states. Each cost us way more than Maine does.

Maine is way cheaper.

... *much more. Yes, there are good people here and some cool things to do, and I think after my depression meds kick in I should be able to settle and try to find some like minded people.

Now you have said something, which could possibly explain it all.

When I see pictures of Utah or the Oregon coast it feels like someone kicked me in the gut. Someday I'll get back there, I just can't right now. Sorry to be so negative, This is only my experience your mileage may vary. (climbing into my flame suit now)

No flames.

Clearly your experiences in Maine are opposite mine.

May God bless you

[bigounets]

Wow, I imagine how you might feel chlostrophobic. I've always loved the northwest and although I've only been in WA 2 1/2 years, I really like it here. But I also lived in Connecticut and Hawaii, two way different places. I usually adapt pretty well, and I hope I will again in Maine. So far I heard a lot of good things and a lot of bad things, hard to make up one's mind.
My car lasted about 8 years in Hawaii without rusting and even survived the colder climate of WA. She's a trooper! Hehe.
Although there are no state income taxes here, the sales taxes are close to 10% now. That's crazy! I figure, since I'll be close to the border with NH, I can always go shop there. I believe they don't have any sales tax?
Anyway, at this point it looks like I don't have much of a choice anyway. My husband has his heart set.
I hope it gets better for you. Where in Maine are you? How's your wife dealing with the change?
Hope you get to move back west soon.