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Maine is a large state, compared to the population, in general, we do welcome newcomers-most of us realize anyone moving here helps out the economy
you may find pockets of ignorance- but for the most part, mainers are very welcoming and non-intrusive-live and let live attitude
Miane offers mountains, lakes, the coast, and 95% trees,
I believe you would love it up here in the summer!!
Hello. I have some questions about Maine.
1. In general, how would you describe the temperament of the people in Maine. Are they warm/friendly, or abrupt & keep to themselves. From the posts I’ve seen on this forum it seems like people tend to be nice & friendly.
2. In general, are the people in Maine ok with people from other states? My dream is to have a vacation home where we can spend the summer months out of the blistering heat of Texas.
I know this is a generalization, but I’d just like to get an idea/perspective from others. I realize there’s rude/nice people everywhere, but there’s definitely a different point of view from a person that lives in say Boston, MA versus someone who lives in Dallas, TX. We have plenty of rude people in TX, but as a general rule people tend to be warm/friendly(especially if you’re in a suburb or in the country). Thanks for any, and all feedback. I hope I worded this in a way that doesn’t offend anyone, but if I did offend someone I’m sorry.
I think what happens a lot in Maine is summer people and new residents move in and they want to change things. If people move in and vote in too many changes and services that residents can't afford you will be looked down on.
Maine is what Maine is and thats why people live there. I think if you like the state the way it is I think they will welcome you in.
I have been in many of the states east of the Rockies and have found that most people are warm and friendly...if you are. Very often, the attitudes of the people you meet are a direct reflection of your own.
I have been in many of the states east of the Rockies and have found that most people are warm and friendly...if you are. Very often, the attitudes of the people you meet are a direct reflection of your own.
That's true, but regions are different. When I was a child and lived in PA, I'll never forget our neighbors just walking into our house and introducing themselves. We never knocked on our neighbor's doors during normal visiting hours. Not something to try in Maine, but there it worked.
What parts of Maine would have rather inexpensive condos? We definitely don't want to spend an arm and a leg on something we'd only be in a few months out of the year.
It depends on whats are where you are coming from. For example one of the priciest places to live in MAINE is Mount Desert Island. This is because 3/4 of the island is national park and there is really limited land and housing available with what's left. Whenever supply is less than demand then the prices go up.
Many native Mainers are unhappy about the rising costs of housing there because Baby Boomers like myself are moving in from the south. But it is what it is. A bigger problem there is their own native Mainer Real Estate agents who are actively trying to get property sold to southerners telling them that by just renting in the summer, they can pay off their mortgage in a few years(not true).
The real point though is that property values on the island are about the same as they are in southeastern PA where I currently live. And the taxes are LESS. So even in one of the priciest places in Maine, I have found that it actually less expensive for property and taxes than where I live now.
If you are coming from an expensive suburb of Houston or Dallas, you may very pleasntly surprised about costs. However, if you move from Maine to some place like just plain not rich southeastern PA, you may be appaled about the costs for housing.
I think what happens a lot in Maine is summer people and new residents move in and they want to change things. If people move in and vote in too many changes and services that residents can't afford you will be looked down on.
Maine is what Maine is and thats why people live there. I think if you like the state the way it is I think they will welcome you in.
Many people who come from the south(PA for example) seem to forget that the population in all of Maine is not as big as Metropolitan Philadelphia. You cannot have everything thing Philly offers. There is no one to pay for this. But many people don't understand that somebody has to pay.
If you are moving in and just want to be there, you won't have that problem.
We have no intention of getting involved in city government, I'll leave that to the natives or the go getter BB's. Recently the chamber of Commerce sent us a request for funds to help pay for the fireworks, since we are property owners on-island, and pay our taxes to Bar Harbor. We sent them a donation. We have already gotten involved in the Senior College, and when we go up we have more people to get together with than we actually have at home. You just have to reach out to help not to change. I'm not a joiner but I plan to join the Rotary since its the Rotary that helps to lots of things on-island.
Just participate, and offer to help. Don't immediately ask to change things.
If you are coming from an expensive suburb of Houston or Dallas, you may very pleasntly surprised about costs. However, if you move from Maine to some place like just plain not rich southeastern PA, you may be appaled about the costs for housing.
Z
I was shocked when I moved back to the Portland area at the cost of housing. I was shocked to see camps in Northern Maine sold to out-of-staters for 5 times their previous value. Now that I'm living in Northern VA and see the price of real estate here and the amount people are paid here, I can understand how this can happen.
It's been like this for 40 years in southern Maine, but it won't be long before anything worth owning in Maine will be out of reach of Mainers and owned by outsiders. Moosehead is a prime example. Just watch how many Mainers (if any) end up buying that land. In 15 years the whole area will be posted and inaccessible. Just like Cape Elizabeth was when I was growing up. You live within a half mile of the ocean (on three sides) but can't access it, except through a state park.
I was shocked when I moved back to the Portland area at the cost of housing. I was shocked to see camps in Northern Maine sold to out-of-staters for 5 times their previous value. Now that I'm living in Northern VA and see the price of real estate here and the amount people are paid here, I can understand how this can happen.
It's been like this for 40 years in southern Maine, but it won't be long before anything worth owning in Maine will be out of reach of Mainers and owned by outsiders. Moosehead is a prime example. Just watch how many Mainers (if any) end up buying that land. In 15 years the whole area will be posted and inaccessible. Just like Cape Elizabeth was when I was growing up. You live within a half mile of the ocean (on three sides) but can't access it, except through a state park.
You are confused about the value of things. In a socialist society, values of things are placed there by the government. But you live in a capitalistic society where value is a changing thing. It depends on demand and many other things. As the population increases, there will be more and more need for people to have places to live. As this happens the supply will decrease, and in all places where the price is lower, it will go up.
This is high school economics of a capitalistic society.
When there was no oil in the Middle East, no one cared what the Arabs did with the sand. There are now places in Western PA where forest land that used to be worth $500 an acres is lots more because of the Marcellus shale propane deposits 5000 feet down. If Disney decided to put in a theme park in the north woods, property values will skyrocket. Nearby to me a major military base is expanding for more R&D. Just north of it, where property values were in the neighborhood of $30,000 an acre(26 years ago they were $6000 and acre, btw) they have hopped up to $50,000 an acre.
We actually live in the USA. I wasn't aware that Marylanders are discouraged from buying property in Delaware. Since we live in a system where we have one whole country people have a perfect right to buy land and property anywhere they want. There are no Jim Crowe laws requiring people to be born in Maine to buy property in Maine. Pretty soon the number of people living in Maine will have a greater percentage of people who moved in than who were actually born there. I guess native Mainers are going to get put on reservations in the North country.
I'm sorry that time has moved on for some and that its no longer 1940 and is now 2010. You'll have to get used to the idea(of manifest destiny for retirees) that the Baby Boomers are going to retire and in doing so they are going to be taking their SS and Pensions and saved 401K's and moving to places which are cheaper for living. Maine is one of these. And since we live in a free country, everyone has a right to do this.
It is what it is. Complaining about the rain does as much good.
You are confused about the value of things. In a socialist society, values of things are placed there by the government. blah blah blah blah.....
Z
Please, save me the arrogant and largely meaningless lecture. I won't respond further as it would merely lead us down roads too often traveled in this forum.
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Pretty soon the number of people living in Maine will have a greater percentage of people who moved in than who were actually born there. I guess native Mainers are going to get put on reservations in the North country.
And since we live in a free country, everyone has a right to do this.
