Otisfield, ME

Saturday Pond sits in the heart of the Oxford Hills section of Maine's Lakes and Mountain Region. Located in the small village of Otisfield, Maine, Saturday Pond is only a 50 minute drive from Portland and Freeport, as well as North Conway, NH.

This 179-acre pond has a mean depth of 8 feet with a maximum depth of 25. A recently reconstructed dam allows better control to maintain the water level.

The water quality as measured by Certified Water Quality Monitor, Ruth Wilson, is slightly above average. Lew Wetzel of Casco conducts phosphorus and dissolved oxygen tests each year. The Saturday Pond Watershed Association (SPWA) was formed in 1993 "to preserve, enhance and protect the advantages of Saturday Pond and its environs."

In the SPWA fall 2009 newsletter, President of the Association, Eileen Altaliades wrote, "In August, Pixie Williams conducted our annual invasive plant survey. It is wonderful to hear that another year has gone by without the presence of milfoil and any other invasive plants in our beloved pond."

Sam's Landing on Rayville Road is a 100 x 100-foot parcel of land at the pond's edge given to the town by Sam and Helen Jaakkola back in 1946. The Jaakkolas specified that the lot be kept in perpetuity by the town as a public bathing beach and picnic ground. Today you'll find picnic tables, a swimming area and a boat access for hand-carried boats. The Landing is restricted to residents and tax payers only.

Saturday Pond is a great place to relax in the summer, reconnect with the family, enjoy nature, explore antique shops and listen to the call of the loons. During the winter months it's open to ice fishing and offers great skating and cross country skiing opportunities.

Steve Markarian, Vice President of the SPWA, says, "We love the peace and tranquility of Saturday Pond."

As the tall pines whisper above the crystal clear waters, Saturday Pond could work its magic on you.

Otisfield, Maine is one of those out-of-the-way places, bordering Norway, Oxford, Poland, Casco, Naples and Harrison. The town encompasses 40 square miles of land and 4.3 square miles of water - and its boundary is 34 miles in length.

G. Howard Dyer, a great storyteller who loves to share his adventures, has lived on and off in Otisfield, Maine over the years. In 1946, aware that state law required "perambulation of the town boundaries", Howard conducted his first complete walk around the boundary of the town, all 34 miles of it. Fifty-six years later, in 2002, he knew that no one had walked the boundary in a long time. So, at 95 years of age, he decided to do it again.

"Weren't sure I could do it," Howard told me as his eyes twinkled. "Didn't say it to anybody."

It took him months to complete because he'd walk here today, there tomorrow. When he finally finished the job, he told town officials.

As Howard tells it, they were surprised because they couldn't get anyone to do it due to "swamps and all, you know."

Howard's accomplishments were included on the 2002-2004 House Appendix of the Legislative Record when he received Otisfield's Boston Cane, given to the town's oldest citizen.

The record reads: "Town law required perambulation of the boundaries every 10 years, and as a gift to the town, Mr. Dyer has walked the 34-mile Town of Otisfield's boundary line, once at the age of 39 and more recently at the age of 95."

For a chance to experience life in Maine the way it should be, take a look at the lakefront properties in Otisfield on Thompson Lake, Pleasant Lake, Moose Pond and Saturday Pond.

All these lakes and ponds are among the cleanest in the state and offer fine fishing. Click the link below:

Search for properties in Otisfield, Maine

Located in the foothills of the western mountains of Maine, Thompson Lake is a gem left behind by the handiwork of the receding glaciers. What Nature has made here for our enjoyment is truly an ideal setting for a classic Maine summer vacation destination - The Cape in Otisfield.

So many times I've returned to Maine in the summer and relished the drive back to Thompson Lake. Whether coming to The Cape, or enjoying some other private lakeside camp or cottage, traveling back over these familiar roads induces a sweet reverie brought on by the fond memories I have of this lake. Even if I had grown up elsewhere, I"m sure I'd still be enthralled with this region.

The Cape is a world unto itself, transporting visitors into a timeless place where "peaceful enjoyment" become the watchwords of the day. Started in 1928, The Cape consists of ten lakeside cottages, located on a peninsula in Otisfield and equipped with all the essentials - and then some. While the cottages may be somewhat rustic in appearance, they come with full baths, comfortable beds, well-appointed interiors, fireplaces (it can be cool at night here, even in mid-summer) private decks, docks, and sandy beach. Welcome to life in the slow lane.

Enjoy a quiet evening on the front porch, overlooking Thompson Lake, and you'll think this is something all people should experience. In fact, I think the world would be better off for it. World peace through superior summering instead of fire power. Perhaps I'm on to something?

So, for those of you interested in ushering in a new era of lakeside diplomacy, a good place to start is at The Cape, located on a private peninsula on one of Nature's great creations, Thompson Lake, in Otisfield, Maine.

If you're interested in having your very own private lakeside home on Thompson Lake, take a look at these dozen offerings currently on the market:

Poland - 280 feet of frontage, flat lot, humble camp, watch the sunset - $329,000.

Casco - 2 bdrm, log-sided camp with bunkhouse, 177 feet of frontage - $359,900.

Oxford - great summer getaway, 1/2 acre, fieldstone fireplace, expansion available - $399,000.

Poland - big house by the road, small separate lot on the water - $419,000.

Oxford - east shore, classic camp right at the water, sandy swimming, pine interior - $425,000.

Oxford - 200 feet of sandy frontage, east shore, 1.5 acre lot for privacy - $449,000.

Oxford - year round waterfront living, cathedral ceilings, 90 feet of frontage - $450,000.

Otisfield - 3 bdrm, 3 baths, quality construction throughout, separate 2 car garage - $495,000.

Oxford - new home on the water, 3 bdrm, 3 bath, level lot, walkout basement - $569,000.

Oxford - executive home, 3000+ sf of living, 150 feet of frontage, 10 rooms, 4 bdrms - $789,000.

Otisfield - 23 acres with 350′ of frontage, 5 bdrms plus in-law, updates, gorgeous barn - $895,000.

Casco - own an 80 slip marina and your home on the lake, mix business with pleasure - $995,000.

Thompson Lake has some of the highest water quality around, has a deep, cold water fishery, one marina (for sale, see below), and a great location - just thirty minutes from the Gray turnpike exit.

Thompson Lake is big and brawny, but also has an "old-timey" feel about it. Boat traffic is not as high as it is on Long Lake or Sebago Lake and there are fewer amenities available around the lake, but we find that once lakefront buyers discover Thompson Lake, they don't want to be anywhere else.

Here are the 11 current listings, all hotlinked to more information:

Casco - 8 Parson's Point Road - log sided camp with separate bunkhouse, sandy beach, sunsets $359,900.

Oxford - no address given - 82 feet on the water, 1/2 acre lot, expansion possibilities, $399,000.

Poland - 767 Megquier Hill Rd. - farmhouse and 2+ acres on the road, private lot on the water, $419,000.

Oxford - Bell Lane - 200 feet of sandy frontage, east shore, four bedroom camp, $479,900.

Oxford - 124 Pine Point Road - year round living, well-maintained, newer home, nice setting, $485,000.

Casco - 210 Thompson Lake Shores Rd. - 3 bdrms, 3 baths, stone fireplace, sandy beach, $525,000.

Otisfield - 11 Parkway - 100 feet on the water, quality throughout, 3 bdrms, 2 car garage, a real gem, $549,900.

Oxford - 164 Pine Point Road - built in 2005, level lot, 3 bdrm, 3 bath, game room, walk-out basement, $579,900.

Oxford - 124 Pine Point Road - same as listing @$485k above, but includes 2 car garage w/living space $585,000.

Oxford - 78 Pine Point Road - 4 bdrms, 2 baths, master suite, hot tub, 150 feet of frontage, $789,000.

Casco - 340 Heath Road - only public marina on the lake with 3 bdrm living space, great opportunity, $1,100,000.

There you have it. If you like Thompson Lake stay in touch with us as there are sure to be new listings coming up there in the next couple of months.

This mortgage news came into my email box yesterday:

CHICAGO (MarketWatch) - The benchmark 30-year mortgage fell below 5% for the first time ever in Freddie Mac's weekly rate survey as economic weakness continued to push interest rates lower, the mortgage agency said Thursday.

The article went on to say that this is the lowest rate ever recorded since they started tracking this number in 1971. The rate is 5% less than it was a week ago.

I know we keep beating this drum about low interest rates, but if you feel that we will find our way out of this economic mess and that the world is not entering into an economic death spiral, and that there is only a finite amount of Maine lakefront property available and that buying a little piece of heaven in Maine is something you've always dreamed about - and you know that Maine lakefront real estate values have generally avoided the wild swings we see in other areas of the country and that, over the years, has proven to be a very good investment, indeed - well, maybe it's time, time to take a broader view, time to look out over your personal horizons, to literally look at the landscape, and see what possibilities might exist, and to think in terms of where you want to be in two, three, or five years down the road.

Even if you're not a financial wizard, you can see that there are forces at work in the world of economics that are making it very attractive to borrow money. Yes, you have to qualify, yes, you'll probably have to have a down payment, and yes, you may even have to pay a point, but mortgage money is available to qualified buyers and at rates never seen in our lifetimes.

The article went on to say, Mortgage rates could remain low at least until the summer, said Greg McBride, senior financial analyst for Bankrate.com.

"The outlook is very positive that these low mortgage rates will likely persist at least through the first half of the year. That is the timetable laid out from the Federal Reserve for pumping up to $500 billion in mortgage-backed bonds," McBride said. Click here for the full article.

If this guy is right, we will have this great opportunity to lock in a low interest for at least the first half of the year. My advice? Start looking now. No need to rush into anything, but time is of the essence because preparation is the precursor to answering that door when opportunity comes knocking.

You can use out Lakefront Locator to survey all of the lakefront and lake access properties in the state of Maine and sort them by region, by lake, and by town (a new feature - more on that another day), and by price.

Take a look and see what's out there. If you see something you like, let us know and we'll send more information and set up a showing, if you like. You may also want to talk to a lender to see what mortgage rates you qualify for. You can see some local rates for Maine here.

Remember, we're here to help you every step of the way. We know Maine lakefront property and we want to share that knowledge with you.