Raymond, ME

Rarely can one find a lakefront property for sale that fits so many criteria - 150 feet of frontage on a high quality body of water; fantastic, westerly views of the water and surrounding hills; privacy without remoteness; and sunsets every day - all in a year round home that features quality craftsmanship throughout.

When turning off Spiller Hill Road in Raymond, Maine (just up Rte. 302 from Portland, Maine) and heading toward 115 Spring Valley Road where this great property is located, you feel the real world falling away behind you as the road wends its way to our destination. There are several upscale homes along this short, private stretch of country road, and you sense that, if you lived here, you would feel both comfortable and in good company.

About a mile in you arrive at the house, sitting near the road alongside its circular driveway. One is first struck by its overall design - its inviting entryway, the classic pitched roof with gable end on the main house, shed dormer on the second floor, all of it shingle sided and left unstained to age gracefully in the vagaries of Maine's delightfully diverse weather. On the back side of the house, a generous deck provides panoramic views al fresco - blue skies above, green trees below, distant hills, a jewel of water - and the scent of pine and hemlock as you feel a light breeze against your face. You soon realize the house is perched on the side of a hill, a moderately sloping terrain that runs away from the house, affording these expansive views. A closer look tells you the terrain moderates as it approaches the waterfront providing a wonderful lakeside area to swim, boat, picnic and recreate. This impression is borne out as you make your way down a winding path to the water's edge and look out onto the flat blue vista that is Raymond Pond.

The interior of the house is all charm and superior construction. The custom kitchen is ample and inviting with natural wood, custom cabinetry, and plenty of counter space. Natural light streams in from oversized, double hung windows on two sides giving the whole kitchen area a warm and pleasing glow.

The living room is a big, open space dominated by floor to ceiling glass, a cathedral ceiling, and a magnificent fieldstone fireplace. The effect of all the glass is to bring the natural world into the living area - bringing the "without, within", if you will. Instead of feeling dwarfed by the ceiling height, size of the windows, and weight and substance of the fireplace, so much of the outside is brought into the room that it all feels of a piece. At once, you can sense the grandeur of being "Master or Mistress of your Universe", and humble in awe of the beauty around you that Nature provides.

The rest of the house is a delightful, beautiful, and very livable tour de force. There's an office space in the upstairs landing, a wonderful second floor master bedroom with its own deck and dormer, a second bedroom upstairs, another downstairs, two and a half baths, and even more room in the lower level.

The layout is efficient, yet imaginative. There is no wasted space here and the interior has a larger feel to it than it actually is. Just to wander around this house is a pleasure to the eye, as there is so much of interest to see inside, yet the outside is visually ever present.

If you're in the market for an exceptional lakefront property, your timing couldn't be better. This property had originally listed at well over $500,000 two years ago. Last year it was reduced to just under that number, and now, today, it's been reduced again to a very affordable $439,900. Who knew that beauty could also be a value play!

For more information or to set up a showing just call Jon Whitney at Mr. Lakefront Keller Williams at 207-671-7595 or email him at jon@mrlakefront.net.

Click here to see more photos and listing details.

Raymond Pond in Raymond, Maine, sits at the base of Rattlesnake Mountain in the Sebago Lakes Region. About 10 minutes from Windham and 30 from Portland, Raymond Pond is easily accessible, yet a great getaway spot.

At 346-acres, the pond is 1/2 mile wide and 1 mile long with a maximum depth of 42 feet. The small size of Raymond Pond guarantees a quiet, peaceful lake. But . . . don't be surprised to discover it is also an active recreational area. Folks enjoy water sports of all types during spring, summer and fall, and winter activities on the ice as well. Mountain biking is an option at nearby Morgan Meadow.

Eagles are often sited soaring above Raymond Pond. The 206-acre Valley Brook wetland drains into Raymond Pond and offers plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities. The pond and the brook make this an interesting place to explore via boat.

And did I mention rattlesnakes? Don't be alarmed. Local folklore claims that in the 1780s Ben Smith of Raymond climbed Rattlesnake Mountain and found it infested with timber rattlesnakes. "He named the hill after its denizens and promptly began removing them . . . the snakes became extinct with the last recorded capture in 1870 . . . The name Rattlesnake Mountain has survived, but other area features have changed their names, perhaps to avoid scaring settlers or summer campers. The two lakes that lie at the foot of the mountain, Great Rattlesnake Pond and Little Rattlesnake Pond, became Crescent Lake and Raymond Pond, respectively, leaving the mountain alone as a reminder of its now extirpated denizens," according to Tim Sample and Steve Bither in their book entitled "Maine Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities and Other Offbeat Stuff."

The water quality of Raymond Pond is slightly above average. It's rated "GPA" as classified by the Maine Water Quality Classification System. "GPA waters ‘shall be of such quality that they are suitable for . . . drinking water after disinfection, recreation in and on the water, fishing . . . and as habitat for fish and other aquatic life. The habitat shall be characterized as natural.'" (38 MRSA section 465-A)

This is great news if you are looking for a classic seasonal or year-round home on Raymond Pond. Just imagine . . . serenading loons, fishing, tubing, waterskiing, snowshoeing or cross country skiing right out your back door.

Lazy summer afternoons can be spent sitting on a dock or canoeing the transparently blue lake. Raymond Pond is framed by tall, dark green pines. The rocky shoreline, weedy coves and good forage base sustain a significant bass fishery.

Thomas Pond in South Casco and Raymond is only minutes from Sebago Lake. It's much, much smaller than the big lake, yet large enough to provide great boating and fishing.

The mood on Thomas Pond is relaxed. In fact, this is where Nathaniel Hawthorne, the famous 19th century author of The Scarlet Letter and many other works, used to enjoy relaxing as a kid. There is even a granite rock known as Inspiration Chair located along the shoreline that it is said he enjoyed sitting on.

Hawthorne spent some off his boyhood only a stones throw from Thomas Pond at his Uncle Richard Manning's home. According to the Hawthorne in Salem Web site, "Nathaniel and his friends could walk along broad Dingley Brook as it flowed down from its source, Thomas Pond, a half mile away. On its shores was the brickyard run by Jacob Watkins, which made the bricks necessary for the chimneys of the houses. From Thomas Pond, Nathaniel could see Rattlesnake Mountain, several miles away, a view which he loved." Today, family names in the area still include Dingley and Watkins. And in the summertime you can visit Hawthorne's home on nearby Raymond Cape Road in South Casco.

Tall white pines surround the 7.5 miles of shoreline. The lake covers 497 acres and has a maximum depth of 64 feet. The outlet, Dingley Brook, drains directly into Sebago Lake. Seasonal and year-round homes dot the shoreline.

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A public access boat launch is available at the Casco/Raymond town line on Route 302. Because of the low clearance under the Route 302 bridge, its limited to only small boats.

Shallow weedy coves and a rocky shoreline provide a quality bass and pickerel fishery. "Adult hatchery salmon brood were stocked in waters where smelt are insufficient to provide rapid salmon growth, including Thomas Pond," according to Francis Brautigam, Fisheries Biologist, Gray.

Thomas Pond provides a quiet Maine getaway only a few miles from a myriad of activities in Windham and Naples.

You'll even find Blacksmiths Winery just up the street. The Winery is open Friday through Monday from 11-5 during the winter months of January - April. From May - December it's open daily from 11-6. Stop by for a wine-tasting. Their blueberry wine is made with native Maine berries.

The water quality is average. Recent watershed projects were completed to reduce erosion and export of sediment and phosphorus into the pond. Thomas Pond is monitored by Raymond Waterways Protective Association and the Thomas Pond Improvement Association.

Only twenty-two miles northwest of Portland and 2 1/2 hours from Boston, you'll find a two-for-one special for lakefront property buyers in the Sebago Lakes Region. Panther Pond in Raymond and Crescent Lake in Raymond and Casco are connected by the meandering and navigable Tenney River.

To access Panther Pond, you'll need to launch your boat at Crescent Lake on Route 85. Follow the Tenney River to the Panther Pond. The many twists and turns make this a scenic access point to the pond. The Tenney is shallow, slow moving and full of fish, especially bass.

Panther Pond was named for the wild animals which supposedly roamed its banks when Nathaniel Hawthorne was a young boy and lived nearby. The pond covers 1,439 acres and has a mean depth of 26 feet with a maximum depth of 68 feet.

From here you'll see the profile of Rattlesnake Mountain rising above the northern end. Dolly's Island is private and located just south of Betty's Neck, which juts out into the pond. Classic Maine cottages and summer camps dot the shoreline. As you boat, keep your eye out for eagles, osprey, kingfishers, loons and Canada geese.

And if you like to fish, you'll want to note these two things: the pond is stocked annually with landlocked salmon and according to a news story on WGME13, Mark Patoine of Raymond had the pleasure of reeling in the catch of the day on September 7, 2009, when he caught a 38-inch, 25 pound Northern Pike on Panther Pond.

Return on Tenney River to Crescent Lake, which is 4 miles long and 2/3 of a mile wide at its widest point. Fishermen say Crescent Lake consistently produces some of the best bass fishing in southern Maine. The most frequent catches include largemouth and smallmouth bass, landlocked salmon, white perch and cusk.

Both Panther Pond and Crescent Lake have Watershed Associations, who work to ensure that the water quality is maintained. The newly formed Crescent Lake Watershed Association is a grassroots group.

According to Ben Bragdon the group "aims to protect Crescent from threats like erosion and invasive species, hopes to bring other homeowners into the fold, [and] raise money and awareness of the programs that can keep the lake clear."

So . . . what are you waiting for? September is the perfect time of year to enjoy the tranquil lakefront settings these two bodies of water provide. Consider Panther Pond and Crescent Lake as a peaceful, relaxing places to vacation or call home.

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