About Sagadahoc County, ME

Home owners in Bath, Maine have many businesses and services, locally, to help them with just about anything they may want to do in terms of improving, maintaining, decorating, furnishing, expanding, updating or just plain living in their homes! I thought, from time to time, I would shine a light on some of our local "stars."

One such business recently in the spotlight is Day Matero Studio which is located on one of "America's Ten Best Streets," Front Street, in Bath. The firm provides architectural and lighting design services.

The spotlight shines on Greg Day, who recently earned the Lighting Certification designation from the National Council of Qualifications for Lighting Professions. This is a program established by the lighting industry to create an industry standard that covers the entire lighting field. Greg was born in Brunswick, Maine and is a nationally recognized lighting designer as well as a fine artist whose body of work includes the Elva Project and illustrating a textbook on interior lighting design.

We are so lucky in our area, that we don't have to go very far to find high quality products and services - they are right in our own backyard.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in the Mid-Coast Region of Maine, I am the Real Estate Professional in your backyard - Contact me Today.

Terry Driscoll, REALTOR - Mid-Coast Maine Residential Real Estate - 207/449-9696

Allen & Selig Realty . 15 Vine Street, Bath, ME 04530 . 207/443-2200

For the year ending 2009 the Bowdoinham Maine residential real estate markets saw 22 single residential transactions occur at a median price of 175K contrasting with 18 homes selling at a median price of 180K in 2008. The median days on market more than doubled from 58 to 138 but given the smaller sample sizes simply having a few homes that had sat on the market for a long period of time selling would most likely skewed this number upwards. With a current inventory level of just 18 homes this market is well poised for a strong 2010 if the economy continues to recover.

To get more information on mid coastal Maine real estate please visit www.mymaineproperty.com, contact me directly at 207-650-5383 or via email at john@greentreemaine.com

Tax Credits for Home Buyers - Still Available in 2010, but in our particular area, I don't think that word has gotten out to Home Buyers yet.

In our office, we certainly had a flurry of First Time Buyer activity in September and October of 2009 but as soon as it became evident to potential buyers that they weren't going to find THEIR home in time to close by November 30th, the activity dried up - - after all, that was the deadline that we (and the media) had drilled into their minds.

Then, while REALTORS and lenders were watching minute-by-minute as the legislation to extend and expand the Home Buyer Tax Credit inched its way through the process to passage into law, the home buyers had gotten off to better things like Thanksgiving celebrations with family and Holiday shopping and parties. Hope they didn't all spend their down payment and closing cost cash! Industry folks talked alot about it amongst ourselves, but NO ONE TOLD THE BUYERS!

Our local Board of Realtors plans to get the word out, but not for another couple weeks. Meanwhile, we are all thinking that the Spring Market will come in January this year because of the tax credits -- Well, that would be NOW, but unless Sellers and Buyers know about the current Tax Credits for Home Buyers, how is that supposed to happen??? Preaching to the choir here, I know, but we need to spread the word! We need to re-focus buyers on the benefits of purchasing before April 30, 2010, and not just First Time Buyers this time around!

So, under the current law, qualified First Time Homebuyers who purchase a principal residence before April 30, 2010 are eleigible for up to $8,000 in tax credit. Starting November 7, 2009, Repeat Buyers who have lived in their primary residence for five of the last eight years can also qualify for a tax credit of up to $6,500. The credit for repeat buyers also expires April 30, 2010 under the current law. The law does provide for a buyer to close by June 30, 2010 if the purchase is under contract by the April 30th deadline and still be eligible for to claim the credit.

If Buyer and Spouse (if married) have not owned a principal residence for a 3-year period before purchase, they may also qualify for the First Time Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000.

A Repeat Buyer does not have to be a move-up buyer; A Repeat Buyer could be down-sizing or moving to a new area, as well, and still qualify for the Tax Credit of up to $6,500.

Of course, there are certain requirements such as income limits and purchase price limits and you may not be eligible for the full amount of the tax credit, depending on your purchase. And some folks just plain won't qualify, but it is certainly worth checking into.

For more information about the tax credits or homes for sale in MidCoast Maine, CLICK HERE TO CONTACT ME.

TERRY DRISCOLL, REALTOR : MID-COAST MAINE RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE : 207/449-9696

ALLEN & SELIG REALTY . 15 VINE STREET . BATH, MAINE 04530 . 207/443-2200

ALLEN & SELIG REALTY . 1 WALNUT HILL COMMONS . NORTH YARMOUTH, MAINE 04097 . 207/829-3339

The Sagadahoc County real estate markets saw 37 transactions take place at a median sold price of 150K and a median days on market of 65 in November 2009. This contrasts with 19 homes sold at a median sold price of 177K after sitting on the market for 113 days in November 2008. Representing a transaction volume increase of almost 100% but a pretty significant pricing drop of 15%. This market has been very slower than its counterparts to the south and the increased volume is a great sign of hopefully continuing improvement.

For more information on this mid coastal Maine housing community please visit www.mymaineproperty.com, contact me directly at 207-650-5383 or via email at john@greentreemaine.com

The Bath Maine real estate markets saw 19 transactions take place with a median sold price of 135K and a median days on market of 96 in October 2009. This contrasts with 10 homes sold at a median sold price of 129K after sitting on the market for 87 days in October 2008. 6 homes were sold in September 2009 showing a huge improvement in market conditions for the mid coastal Maine housing markets. The inventory level sits at 122 home on the market compared with 132 a couple of months prior.

For more information on this coastal Maine community please visit www.mymaineproperty.com, contact me directly at 207-650-5383 or via email at john@greentreemaine.com