Portland, ME

The for the month ending June 30th, 2009, the Portland ME real estate market posted once again solid home sale figures. A total of 64 homes sold in Portland compared with 89 a year prior. A 27% volume drop. For the last 5 months, volume drops year over year have been anywhere from 4% to this months high of 27% but two other months saw 25% and 26% drops, thus the market seems fairly stable all things considered. On a month over month basis, Portland Maine Home sales were up 20%. Median prices for June 2009 clocked in at 205K, compared with 215K a year prior.

Thanks for reading about this Southern Maine real estate community.

The Portland Maine real estate residential home markets had a very strong April with 43 transactions taking place at a median sold price of 220K and a median days on market of 41. This contrasts with 45 homes sold at a median price of 228K after sitting on the market for 37 days in April 2008. Inventories rose from 393 to 410 compared with the month prior.

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

Here in Portland, Maine we all know why we love living here.

Portland is a great metropolitan area with great access to the arts, entertainment, outdoor living and even in the recent economic downturn the Portland area has remained generally stable as far as economic opportunities. The Greater Portland metropolitan area is the center for jobs and commuting from other areas is relatively easy compared to other larger cities.

Recently I was showing houses and condos to visitors from Washington D.C. and they could not believe how easy it was to get around even at "rush hour". From Portland's Old Port area you can be to great beaches in 15 minutes, to ski areas in an hour, to lakes and waterways in under an hour and as far as retaurants and entertainment. Pretty much anything you want within walking distance.

Forbes magazine has now named Portland America's Most Livable city

http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/01/cities-city-ten-lifestyle-real-estate-livable-cities.html

US News and World Report has named Portland one of the Top Places to Retire.

http://www.usnews.com/featurUes/business/best-places-to-retire/best-places-to-retire.html

Could it be the rest of the world is catching on ?

Call 207-741-2006 or email me at droberts@waterglenrealty.com for listings in Greater Portland and the Lakes Region

How much ice is needed to support the weight of one person? The answer according to the American Pulpwood Association is  2 inches for one person on foot. 

You may wonder why someone would want to be on a Maine lake, brook, pond or river?  But consider ice fisherman, snowsledders and years ago teams of horses pulling logs across lakes that were easier than making trails thru the woods in some instances. Or in a blinding snowstorm when you discover, oh oh...you are not in a field..you are on a snowsled on a large lake at night in a group and that looks like open water, kind of black up ahead. Rut Ro Shaggy.

     According to the handy reference, outdoor enthusiasts should know that there needs to be 3 inches of ice for a group of people walking single file. For the average passenger car, 7.5 inches are recommended for two ton gross weight. A light truck weighing 2.5 tons would need 8 inches of ice underneath for support to keep it high and dry. 

     A ten ton heavy truck should have 15 inches for the margin of safety to drive over it safely. And 3 feet of ice, or 36 inches would support 110 tons of weight in case you find yourself behind the wheel of a big rig like the ones on the show in Alaska that drive for miles and miles over ice to get logs to the mills.  Also, what happens if you fall thru the ice? Don't panic which is easy to say now as you read this warm, dry and not in harm's way. The advice to remember is lay both arms on the unbroken ice and kick hard.  This will help lift your body on to the ice and then you can roll to safety. To help another that has fallen in, lie flat, reach out with a branch, plank, robe or your belt and consider forming a human chain if you are fortunate to be in a group with numbers during the rescue. Don't stand, secure the victim, wiggle backwards to the solid ice.

     The last advice included in the state Of Maine Snowmobile Laws & Rules guidelines is "if your feet are cold..put on your hat." Sounds funny but good advice as most of your body heat is lost thru your head and neck. The last expression the old timers quoted to anyone who is wise enough to take heed..when dealing with ice, "Thick and blue, tried and true. Thin and crispy, way too risky".

Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers - Selling Winter Recreational Property To Snowsledders, Ice Fisherman, Skiiers