We get tons of calls, plenty of emails and answering alot of the same questions makes links to blogs about those area posts one big reason to blog.

It could be the only reason you blog. You do a detailed piece on the weather, on schools, on the areas folks want to know about, are concerned about. So I always encourage the buyer to email me a slew of questions, and one by one can address them. They have a copy that way of the answers, can forward them to their friends, kids, etc. They refer to them. It is so much quicker than a half hour on the phone. And the emails can be addressed quickly, efficiently after your first phone "interview" and introduction. This is a typical open letter. I know I know all caps can be consider shouting but we are all friends here and either making the response in red or blue font, we sometimes hammer out the answers and quickly within a few minutes respond. They are happy and got addressed pronto on the other end. Done. This is a Louisana buyer eyeing our area of the planet.

Let's open up that communication and see the many of the same questions others ask.

This "forum" of inquiries can help others wondering the same things. Pretty much everyone has these same set of questions in one form or another... They can get long.....You open them, hit reply and get the questions answered one by one.

See below....

MOOERSREALTY
69 North Street
Houlton, ME 04730
207.532.6573-Voice
207.532.6574-Fax
Web Site: www.mooersrealty.com Video: www.youtube.com/mooersrealty Blog: www.meinmaine.com

 

----- Original Message ----- From: MISTER CHANGE HIS NAME TO PROTECT IDENTITY To: info@mooersrealty.com Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 11:03 PM Subject: Aroostock County / Maine
Hey Andy! ...was good speaking w/ you today - I enjoyed our conversation, however I have a few other  questions....   Among those are as follows:   1. How are the taxes for the properties calculated / assessed? On Square footage? or urban vs. rural?  or amenities?.... TWO TO THREE DOLLARS AN ACRE FOR OVER 40 ACRES AND DEPENDS ON SQUARE FOOTAGE, HOW SWANKY A PLACE WHEN COMPARED TO ALL THE OTHERS IN THE AREA. MARKET APPROACH.     ----> we're homestead exempt here in La. up to $75K.....but anyway....    I've been persuing the Maine MLS and noticed a myriad of dollar amounts to properties. It varies so dramatically and would certainly hope that it would NOT be an issue    in my decision to  purchase. COASTAL MAINE OCEANFRONT, WATERFRONT LAKE LAND IS EXPENSIVE..RURAL NORTHERN MAINE ACREAGE IS A DEAL.   2. We briefly spoke a/b this... but ...Would you consider the "Pellet Stove/Heater" over other types heating systems? SURE. THEY WORK GOOD IN CATHEDRAL LOCATIONS...WHERE NOT ALOT OF WALLS...BUT WITH 8 ROOM FARM HOUSE..PARTS OF PLACE DON'T GET WARM THAT WAY AND NEED CENTRAL HEATING WITH REGISTERS, RADIATORS.    I did some research on this type of unit...and it appears to be of a 'green' type ....ya know.... enviro friendly....    What a/b 'backup' type heating systems?  Should I consider that upon searching for properties? ELECTRIC IS EASY BUT EXPENSIVE BACK UP..DEPENDS HOW LONG YOU ARE GOING TO BE AWAY.    What a/b the ventilation / exhaust for such systems?  I'd hate to be (CO) poisoned while I sleep at nite !!! :) EXHAUST THRU CHIMNEY OR DIRECT OUT SIDE WALL. THERE ARE VENTLESS GAS BUT CREATE MOISTURE...MOLD PROBLEM. WOOD IS NOT A DIRTY WORD EITHER.    It seems this type of unit is the 'latest technology'...n'est-ce pas? :)   3.  Are baseboard heating systems adequate? I've seen many pics of properties (inside, of course) showing these type of units. THEY WORK BEST..HOT WATER HEAT AND RADIANT HEAT IN SLABS.   4. I would assume the 'well water' that is so prevalent on properties, to be clean and pure!  We call that 'soft water' down here in La. and it only occurs north of N.O.    where certain aquifers exist.    Have you experienced property owners having problems w/ their pumps?  NO. Is is fair to say, the 'wells' are operated by an electric pump? YES UNLESS HAND PUMP FOR RECREATIONAL "RUNNING WATER"...YOU RUN FOR IT SO TO SPEAK.    What happens to  these units during frigid temps?  Should I prepare to buy 'bottled water, just in case" ? YOUR WELL WILL WORK FINE, NO NEED TO BUY WATER. LOTS OF IT HERE, WELLS DON'T GO TO CHINA..PLENTY OF VOLUME.  NOT ALOT OF STRAWS IN THE GROUND COMPETING FOR WATER WITH 11 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE IN AROOSTOOK COUNTY.  5.  Whats up w/ the "neighborhood association fees" ?  I've only noticed that upon looking at properties twice...Is it like a 'condo fee"  ??? PRETTY RARE. DON'T HAVE THOSE KIND OF FEES ON THIS END.  VOLUNTARY ROAD DUES FOR LAKE ASSOCATIONS OF $35 TO $75 THE NORM BUT NO GUN TO YOUR HEAD TO HAVE TO PAY AND YOU WILLINGLY DO AS MONEY SPENT WISELY.    From what I've seen thus far, these fees are applied to properties that are NOT on the proverbial map! COASTAL MAINE, SKI AREA CONDOS ARE ABOUT THE ONLY PLACE YOU SEE THE EXTRA TACK ONS...NORTHERN MAINE IS MEAT AND POTATO SIMPLE, NOT ALOT OF JAZZ TO DRIVE THE COSTS UP.      Does this result from a 'developer'  developing a subdivision or what?  I really don't get it...and i've seen many props that interest me with this designation. NOT BUILDING HOMES 32 AT A TIME HERE..ONE AT A TIME AND EVERYTHING IS COST CONSCIENCE. I HATE WASTE OF MONEY...YOURS, ANYONES. WAY WE WERE RAISED ON A FARM. LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS, BE CAREFUL ON IMPULSE SPENDING.   6.  Being from the South  Louisiana....we're 'loaded' w/ Oil and Gas - ( don't ask me a/b the costs - we probably pay as much as anyone in the country) but surprisingly      gas (down here) is much cheaper to use than electricity. Is that a ditto in Maine? DEPENDS ON UTILITY. HOULTON WATER COMPANY IS WATER, SEWER, POWER AND IS CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP. MY OFFICE WITH HEAT, LIGHTS, COMPUTERS AND THE OUTSIDE SPOTLIGHTS ON SIGN IS 600 FOR THE WHOLE YEAR. IF THEY MAKE MONEY THEY LOWER THE BILL...COMMUNITY OWNED AND NOT FOR PROFIT.     Referencing, Hot Water Heaters and Cooking Stoves... namely!   Is 'gas' the fuel of choice for these appliances? I LIKE GAS, SOME PREFER ELECTRIC. DEPENDS WHAT YOU GREW UP WITH, ARE USED TO.   7.  I am a 'weekend' hunter and fisherman ...here in Louisiana. However my desire to 'hunt' has been reduced by my love of animals - especially as I age!      Even though, I'm a 53yr old kid !!!! :).....     Please tell me where I could live and continue to see 'wildlife' in my backyard?  Not in Houlton, huh?   SURE..DEER, MOOSE AND LOTS OF WILDLIFE...THIS IS WHERE YOU WOULD WANT TO GO IF YOU WERE AN ANIMAL.  11 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE. THINK LIKE BAMBI, THEY DON'T WANT NYC. Where is the limit, regarding towns... that I could experience something like that?  I don't want to live so far out in the boonies, that it would take 2hrs to drive to the store / hospital/ post office...etc.... YOU HEAD OUT A HALF MILE IN ANY DIRECTION AND YOU ARE IN THE COUNTRY. LESS PEOPLE, LESS PROBLEMS, EASY DAY TO DAY LIVING.         And on the flip side of that... I do not want to be in downtown Manhattan either!!!!! (Oxbow, Sherman Hills, Island Falls and Crystal...come to mind )  Are these properties on the proverbial 'edge' of the wilderness? YOU BORDER T2 R3 TYPE TOWNS WITH UNORGANIZED, SEND YOUR TAXES TO THE STATE OF MAINE IN AUGUSTA KINDA FORMAT. NO PEOPLE, JUST HUNTING CAMPS, RECREATIONAL PROPERTIES AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF WILDLIFE, LAND OWNED BY WOODS/PAPER COMPANIES.      Any advice?  I would guess that would depend on how much I 'qualify' for.... WE NEED TO GET YOU PRE-APPROVED AND THIS VIDEO GIVES YOU A LIST OF NUMBERS TO CALL FOR MONEY IN HOULTON MAINE...WHERE TO TURN.  KEEP THOSE QUESTIONS COMING! ANDY   ===========================================================================================================================   As of this date, the sale of my existing property is under contract. Today was the last day of the young fella's inspection periond (15day). I haven't heard anything from our agent , but the 'word' is an 'enviromental study' is the next step in the process. I have no idea how long that will take, but I understand it is required by the buyer's lender. After which, I will surmise that the closing date should be in sight! I guessing around late October or early Novemeber 2009. Man, this can't happen soon enough!!! SUPER! FINGER'S CROSSED.   I believe I will come up to Maine and would like to get together w/ you and discuss just what I'm looking for in a property. If things work out, and I am successful in finding a place ....or rather an AREA of my liking....I think it'd be prudent to 'RENT' at first. I mean afterall, I'm coming up there w/ no job, and no work history in the immediate area... I would think a LENDER would 'frown' upon that....   So 'establishing' myself for maybe a year 'renting' and as well, have some kind of consistent work.....those are my short range goals...   Would do you think? HOUSES TO RENT ARE RARE AND ALWAYS FOR SALE. REASON? NO MONEY RENTING A HOME AND THE OWNER WANTS ANOTHER ONE AND IS RENTING LIKE DOMINOS SOMEWHERE. WE HAVE 600 APARTMENTS IN HOULTON MAINE AND LESS THAN 2 PERCENT VACANCY SO TIGHT SLEDDING. WHY? NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO BE A LANDLORD...HOUSES ARE SO INEXPENSIVE THAT IT IS CHEAPER TO OWN FOR $30,000, $40,000 HOUSE PRICE TAGS!     ok, that's it.... thanks for your time and consideration Andy....( I like you style - in the videos!!!) à bientôt et merci! MAIS QUI...WE'LL STAY IN TOUCH.  (Name Removed To Protect The Innocent In Louisana Emailer)

Other people reading this learn from the questions and answers. Open diary emails without the email or names of the people can be helpful and let the buyers know they are not the only Kit Carson / Christopher Columbus explorers itching to move to Maine.

Here's the definition.

mouthwatering - Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

Main Entry: mouth·wa·ter·ing; Pronunciation: \-ˌwȯ-tə-riŋ, -ˌwä-\; Function: adjective; Date: 1900. : arousing the appetite : tantalizingly delicious or ...

     Don't think of real estate in this way, using this term? You should. And not just high end expensive swanky places for the rich and famous that have the ingredients, the face cards to play to achieve the appetitie arousal easily either. In Maine, what we don't have is just as important a list. No crime, No traffic. You can see the bright stars overhead at night because there is no pollution.

    

Lots of people in an area mess up the area and require lots of rules, many guidelines and a long long list of do's and don'ts....mostly don't do this, can't do that.

In Maine a real estate broker brags up the four seasons, the coastal lighthouses, the rugged interior mountains and rolling farm fields for a pretty big, varied geographic state. We have lots of eye candy images of the area to play like cards in a game.

     But the day to day pleasant surprises of living here, or investing in recreational property for vacation use includes many items that affect your pocket book. Many times the plus of living here is what we don't have, how much lower cost day to day is in Maine. For example, a Ford Taurus insurnace bill in say Attleboro MA is three times the cost of what the same Ford Taurus, not a Porsche, would cost to insure in say Aroostook County. Why? not six lanes of traffic to head on collide with when the teenage driver of the car in the wreck with you is busy tex messaging and eating a whopper, doing her nails while she trys to drive. Also, car thieves are lazy and who is going to travel 6.5 hours from Boston, Massachusetts and 8 hours from Providence Rhode Island for example to heist a Ford Taurus? And if they are looking for flashing, bling bling cars like Rolls Royces, Ferrari and expensive European imports, not going to find any in Northern Maine.

     To locals, a luxury car is one without payments, that has been carefully shopped for, maintained and waxed/detailed religiously and taken care of. A car with no payments that is dependable transportation from "A" to "B" looks pretty swanky.

     No payment, no worry about how you are going to pay for the ride if you lost your job, got sick and income fell off. We sleep better nights NOT owing money. We don't need a flashing piece of metal on four wheels in the yard to impress out neighbor. We don't have many neighbors with eleven people per square mile.

     Work ethic, living within your means, raising politie, studious, hard working youth who can take care of themselves, and who respect other people's property, feelings, lives is key. Small town rural Maine living? Are you ready to make the leap? Maine. What are you waiting for, what is holding you back? Get here just as quick as you can.

Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers- It's Different, Way Way Simpler in Maine.

It's easy to say you don't need to do something new when you are not doing it, or seeing the huge results.

Here's a simple put together 100 acre low key video about a Maine log cabin for sale. Over 5000 views. Yeah..and that is just the tally on the youtube views, not counting realtor.com upload and the slew of other places you salt and pepper and Johnny Appleseed the clip to attract attention, show the property right now.

Still not doing video? It's probably a passing fad like color tv or the talking picture shows. Why put the effort into video to brand your office, show the property inside out and let the 85% of cyber buyers searching online meet up in a low key, hear your voice/see your face sort of way?

Boy you sure are smart selling real estate in 2009 and not doing video, keeping it simple and same old same old. Do you hand write your contract too and walk the carbon copies into the lawyers because fax machines/efax are both fads too right?

 

Maine REALTOR Andew Maine - Maine, What Is Keep You From Getting Here, Investing In "Vacationland"?

Outside your real estate operation, do you have flowers or is everything paved, brick, institutionized office look?

Maine flowers are short lived but new ones come in before, after each season if you stagger it right. Here is a peek our my front door in Houlton Maine. I am lucky to live half the year 32 feet from work..and to zip to a lake home the other half nine miles away. Here's are today's actors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Got to find out what is nibbling the heck out of the hollyhoc plants though..hmmmm. Show us flowers from your end of the world, your place on the planet.

ME REALTOR Andrew Mooers - Maine, Four Season Beauty, 4th Lowest Crime State, Low Cost Real Estate.

The blur of life makes you wonder sometimes. Sit down, access the situation. Hop on the bike.

Tour your mental facilty and look for clutter, slack, what is missing, If you now live on the fifth floor of a skyscaper in an urban setting, you have to wonder without a job, how would you survive? Maybe a pink slip is a blessing in disguise. The break you have been needing, waiting for.

Happy now? Content, at peace?

No roof top garden, and stuck in a concrete/steel girder jungle with a sea of expressionless faces day in and day out. Ready for what's been missing? Ready for Maine? Get here quick as you can. Consider living on the land, making a home with food you grow, wood you heat with from your own land. This 80 acres would be a corker selection to consider. Has a camp, has water, view and you can be hidden. No more fifth floor. You are on the ground now, homesteading in Maine. Selling vegetables at the local farmer's market, a member of a food co-op and really enjoying healthier living from a physical, spiritual, mental, financial standpoint. Watch the Maine land video of this one. $50's!

 

Or ready to tackle some buildings that are screaming r-e-h-a-b? Over 30 acres, big red classic Maine barn, view with fertile soil to feed yourself and others. Ready for the change? Rid yourself of the anxiety. Find out what has been missing. Maine..it's whispering your name. Hear it in this Maine farm video? $50's!

 

ME Real Estate, Mooers Realty - Maine, Get Here Quick As You Can And Find Out What's Been Missing.