Casco, ME

When buying a Maine waterfront property always make your offer contingent on having a satisfactory discussion with the local Code Enforcement Officer. No matter how knowledgeable your buyer's agent may be, he or she has no jurisdiction over the application of state and local rules and ordinances. The Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) does.

Make an appointment to meet the CEO at the property. Walk the property with him or her and be prepared to ask questions. Here are some suggestions.

A good place to start is to confirm the things you already think you know. Never assume! For example, how close to the water can I build? What are the sideline setbacks? How far do I need to be from the road? Is that distance measured from the middle of the road or the side of the road? What are the location requirements for my septic tank, leach field, and well? If there is an existing structure in the 100 foot zone, am I able to utilize the 30% expansion rule?

Regarding what can and cannot be done within the 100 foot protected zone, here is a list of questions you may want to ask:

What bushes and trees can I cut down?

Can I prune back the bushes that grow along the shoreline?

Can I remove a half-dead or diseased tree?

Can I disturb a wildlife habitat, e.g. woodchuck burrow, bobolink nest, or beaver dam?

Can I keep a field area mowed and fertilized?

Can I pasture a horse in this area? What about other animals?

Where can I put in a dock and how big can it be?

Are there any limitations for boat and motor size for this body of water?

Can I have a firepit down by the water?

Can I plant anything I want, from vegetabe garden to trees and schrubs?

Can I use Round Up to kill off the poison ivy growing along the shoreline?

Can I move rocks, branches, leaves and debris that are currently under water?

Where can I move them to? To one side underwater, or can I remove them from the water and dispose of them?

These are some of the more common questions that come up when buyers contemplate a lakefront property purchase. Remember - make sure you protect yourself by always adding this contingency to your offer: "Offer is contingent upon having a satisfactory discussion with the local Code Enforcement Officer". Do your homework, ask good questions and make sure to get clear, satisfactory answers. Do this and you may save yourself some bitter disappointments and difficulties after the sale has closed.

In the aftermath of a long, snowy winter where the evening news was filled with stories about mortgage meltdowns, rising oil prices, recession, inflation, a long presidential campaign, and a longer war, it's no wonder we all feel a little worn out. But I've been reading some sunnier news.

You may be surprised to know that this is a great time to be a buyer of lakefront real estate. Why? Predominantly because since late 2005 the market has turned - from a seller's market to a buyer's market. By that I simply mean there are more people selling than there are people buying. That puts the buyer in the driver's seat. Here's a short list of why buyers have things going their way right now.

1 - Selection. There's a lot of property for sale right now and more coming onto the market every day. Selection not only means there's a lot more to choose from, but also that there will be competitive pricing.

2 - Bargaining Power. With an overabundance of sellers wanting to attract the attention of an insufficient number of buyers, the buyers have the advantage on pricing. Buyers can use similar properties for sale in the same market as motivators for sellers to listen to reasonable offers.

3 - Low Mortgage Rates. 30 year fixed, still around 6%. Cheap money. Need I say more.

4 - Timing. It's spring and we're just coming into the season for lakefront property. This is the best time to start looking. Sometimes a buyer can find an early season bargain, other times it's just helpful to know what's currently out there early on, then watch the market weekly to see what new comes on. Enlisting the help of a buyer's broker can be very helpful. Plus, if you get something under contract early in the season, you can enjoy it this year, not next...which brings me to my last point...

5 - Enjoyment. Looking at balances in a savings account, CD, or stock portfolio is all well and good, but as far as assets go, you can't beat sitting in a wicker lawn chair, putting your feet up on a deck rail on a July afternoon, a cold beverage in hand, and looking out at the water - and it's all yours. It's your asset, you own it, and you can enjoy it - by yourself, with your family, and with friends. How great of an asset is that?!

If you're like most people there are probably a hundred reasons not to make a move on a waterfront property this year, but my guess is they pale in comparison to the five reasons for buying that I list above.

If you'd like to start looking, there's no better place to start than online, using our Lakefront Locator. You can see all the current listings, see them located on a map, and get more information by simply shooting us an email directly from the site. Try it out. It's a good place to start.

When it comes to Jetskis, or "personal watercraft " as the manufacturers like to call them, ninety percent of lakefront homeowner opinions I've heard fall into two extreme positions.

Extreme Position #1: OUTLAW THEM COMPLETELY - Many believe that unlike powerboats, which are designed to take one from point A to point B, jetskis are not designed for that peaceful and benign purpose. Folks seeking thrills, excitement and a rather noisy kind of fun are drawn to jetskis like moths to a flame. To some, jetskis are to boats as "funny car" hot rods are to automobiles. A virulent strain.Most jetski owners are not oblivious to the fact that many people hate jetskis. Strangely, this does not deter them from buying jetskis. In gentler times, irritating the neighbors would be considered bad form, or at least unneighborly. Not any more. They seem to feel that "the right to own jetskis should not be infringed upon". Their sentiment seems to be that folks who come from hundreds of miles away to enjoy the peace and tranquilty of the lake or pond are, well, just going to have to put up with us jetski owners.

Many in the "peace and quiet" crowd who yearn to commune with nature from their kayaks and canoes, generally favor the outlawing of jetskis, especially on smaller lakes and ponds.

Extreme Position #2: NO RESTRICTIONS ON JETSKIS ON ANY LAKE OR POND AT ANY TIME - Folks who hate the government interfering with our personal liberties decry the oncoming "nanny state". "Where in the constitiution does it say that the government can abridge or eliminate the right to use one's jetski whenever and wherever one wants?" is the hue and cry.Although only a tiny percntage of Maines lakes and ponds have prohibited jetski use, a fight is brewing. It was reported this week that a jetski owner is questioning the legality of the state to allow lakefront homeowners to prohibit jetskis on their lake (SEE FULL STORY). This jetski owner may be kicking a sleeping dog that just might bite him. Ever since the horrendous power boat accident on Long Lake attitudes are hardening.

The "Silent Majority" position - Allow jetski use on most lakes and ponds excepting the very smallest in size. Those jetskiers who become a problem or a nuisance would lose their right to operate a jetski on the lake. This position, however reasonable, is an enforcement nightmare for the harbormaster, the warden service and the local authorities. But the irresponsible and careless actions of a few should not bar the responsible use and enjoyment of jetskis by many lovers of Maine lakes and ponds.

This post is authored by my associate Tom Ferent / Mr. Lakefront.

Well, it's that time of year again.

Maine Maple Sunday, on March 23rd, is becoming our favorite sign of Spring. You can visit any number of sugaring sites all over the state, see how they boil the sap down, and sample some of the best that Mother Nature and Maine have to offer.

Here at Mr. Lakefront we think coming to sample the maple sugar is the sweetest reason to come to Maine. We also suggest that while you're here, you sample some of the "sweetest" waterfront property in the universe.

Pick almost any region in Maine and find this nice pairing - sugaring sites and lakefront real estate. Use this Maine Maple Sunday link to search the state for sugaring sites that will be open either Saturday the 22nd or Sunday the 23rd. Then go to our Lakefront Locator and search for some "sweet" waterfront property.

Contact us and we'll give you all the details on any properties you find that look "sweet" to you.

13 Ways You Can Help the Lake

I was checking out the latest newsletter from our friends at the Worromontogus Lake Association in the Augusta area and came across this great list of things Maine waterfront property owners can do to help their lake. I've seen this before, but neglected to save it, so am now happy to pass it along to our readers.

1. Always check boat, trailer and equipment for plant fragments before launch and after take-out.

2. Respect Shoreland Zone Regulations. Before making any change on your land, check with your town to see what's permitted and what's not in the shoreland: 250' of the lake and 75' of streams.

3. Control storm water run-off from buildings, paths, driveways and road. Check your property on a rainy day and fix run-off sites by planting vegetation or constructing swales to direct water flow away from the lake.

4. Cultivate a wooded buffer. Trees, shrubs and grasses slow the flow and filter soil and pollutants from rainwater before they end up in the lake.

5. Limit lawn size, mow less often, and don't rake duff within 75 feet of shore.

6. Limit fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide use. Long lasting residues in these chemicals can turn lakes green and harm aquatic life.

7. Don't stress the septic system. Inspect the system yearly. Pump the tank regularly. Systems 20 years and older should be inspected by a specialist. Use phosphorus-free cleaners, and detergents. Stagger laundry loads. Minimize water use. Don't put grease or toxics down the drain.

8. Construct docks and floats with lake-friendly materials. Choose cedar, cypress, plastic, or aluminum over wood that's pressure-treated with arsenic.

9. Dogs, humans and boats should never be washed in the lake!

10. Observe headway speed within 200 feet of shore. Boating in shallow water disturbs fish habitat and stirs up sediment.

11. When you replace a boat motor, choose a clean 4-stroke engine.

12. Preserve wildlife habitat on land and underwater. Lake shallows and shorelands are home to many native species and nurseries for young.

13. Support your local lake association and Maine COLA (Maine Congress of Lake Associations).

Thanks for your attention to these things. Have a great weekend!