Andrew Mooers | Northern Maine Real Estate / Aroostook County Broker

Many areas with population centers have many zip codes for the same city or large town. But in Houlton Maine and Aroostook County zip codes mean something different. For example, Houlton's 04730 zip covers all of Houlton that is six miles by six miles in size geographically. AND you get parts of the town of Littleton...to the north. Some of the northern section of Littleton spills into 04760 which is the post office jurisdiction of Monticello Maine. To the west of Houlton you get Hammond, Ludlow, to the south into Hodgdon, Linneus, etc. So when someone says you are looking for a home on such and such an address with the Houlton Maine 04730 zip, don't assume it is actually in Houlton. For years everything from RFD 1 and up which at least helped the reader know oh...that is out the County Road or north on US Rt 1. But 911 even though it has a precise system behind it , it did away with a system that was effective and locally well understood by the folks that lived here. 04763 covers Oakfield Maine but again not just Oakfield. So it goes zip code wise in Aroostook, Northern Penobscot and Northern Washington Counties.For help with zip codes, visit here.

Maine REALTOR Andrew F Mooers - Houlton & Aroostook County Maine Real Estate & Area Information

For starters, nearly every National Association of REALTORS ad will end with the tag line..."every market is different."

Many of the ads have the premise that interest rates are lower than ever, the selection is plentiful and you have lots of choices. But in the back of the mind of listeners, viewers, readers, there's the nagging notion from the media that EVERY market is dire, that homes left and right are being foreclosed on. Images of long lines of sad looking, dusty former home owners looking like the Beverly Hillibillies loading up the old pickups with family heirlooms, and slowly leaving cities or where ever they live run thru their heads. 
In Houlton, Maine we are fortunate to be parked in the upper left hand corner of the country.  We enjoy lower cost living across the board...homes you can buy for under $40,000 and be happy living in.  Low low cost car insurance because they dont get stolen and with fewer people on the Maine byways and highways, less accidents. The high quality of life with beautiful 4 season outdoor beaty, fewer friendlier people and a real home made sense of community mak for a classic setting to raise a family, to work, to play.  We don't struggle with $300,000 or higher mortgages.  We can afford second homes on a clear nearby lake or a little woods camp in the woodlot we use to heat our homes.  The oil cost increase is another factor squeezing the nation but as our goveror John Baldacci says  " we live in the Saudia Arabia of wood".  Pellet stoves, wood boilers all make heating our homes economical and offer us choices.  Heating with wood in a Manhattan apartment...splitting the wood with your family in the high rise parking garage or in a public park in the city is not an option in other areas.  It is common in Maine. 

What is slow in this market? Apartment house sales have been slower for many years due to landlord perception that anyone can move in, destroy, not pay rent and cause hard aches for the owner.  But with high oil prices, I think this sector will improve as folks sell large older homes that are harder to heat with oil that only have one or two occupants.  Instead, buying a four unit and putting family members in each unit.  Kinda akin to the family farm of years ago where three generations lived under one roof.  Large 6 bedrooms 3,000+ square foot homes are harder to heat but the stained glass of the victorians, the turrets, the original patterned woodwork and tin ceilings are still an attraction. If marketed to outside buyers who may figure they could never hope to own something that elegant where they live, they buy it for $149,900 and down in Houlton Maine.  But a plain jane, 6 bedroom home without the fireplaces that may have some miles on it from deferred maintenance or rental wear and tear, that segment of the Houlton real estate market is stalled.  There also is a larger number of $149,900 homes to consider and that price range with larger supply is in grid lock especially due to how to heat it with $5 a gallon oil if no wood burning options exisit. That's the Houlton Maine real estate market that overall is healthy due to so low a price tag for property to begin with.  There are no $200,000 spikes on homes up and down like the west coast or other area's of the country witnessed in the last two years  We are fortunately in our own local economy and due to cautious spending  and lower cost big ticket items like real estate than others struggle with, we live well.  The strong Canadian dollar has caused lots of heading this way border traffic  too which helps the local economy.
We don't need to part with lots of money for family trips and getaways either. With over 47 state parks, miles of snowsled and atv trails, thousands of lakes, ponds, streams and rivers it provides us "Vacationland" entertainment and recreation right here in our own backyard.  We don't leave home to find it.  We live here...kinda like being in a 4 season natural "Disneyland" but no lines at Space Mountain and no price for admission.  Just have to live here to reap the benefits. 

What's coming up for events? There are many but some of the big ones...for June!

5th Houlton High School 2008 Graduation - Millar Civic Center 7pm

6th Hodgdon High School 2008 Graduation - HHS Gymnasium 7pm

7th Great Houlton Christian Academy Bike A Thon/Walk A Thon. Call 532-0736 For Details

8th Knowles Corner ATV Club Regular Monthly Meeting At Club House - 2pm

11th Compassionate Friends Support Group - Meeting At 6:30/7:30pm At Houlton Regional Hospital

12th McGill's Community Band Concert In Monument Park 7pm

12/13th Houlton Fair Picture Passes For Agricultural Fair Go On Sale! Visit www.houltonfair.com

14th Alpaca Shearing Clinic For More Information Dial 207 532 9696

16th Catch The Reading Bug at Cary Library. Program Begins June 23rd. 207 532 1302

20th Northern Maine Soap Box Derby Trial Runs at Derby Hill

21st 13th Running Of The Northern Maine Soap Box Derby Race. Starts 8AM

21st Grange Public Supper at 61 Green Street, Houlton. 4:30 to 6pm $5, 2.50 and under 3 FREE!

25th Diabetes Support Group Meeting at Houlton Regional 6 to 7:30 pm

28th 3rd Annual Fishing Derby At Drakes Hill Pond 8 am to Noon. Ages 14 & Under 207 532 2783

You know spring is in Maine when the canoes are everywhere on top of pickups and paddlers enjoy swollen rivers in yearly races.  Little league tryouts are over, teams begin to play this week in Houlton Maine. And fiddleheads are another part of Maine culture. 

A fiddlehead is the early stage of an ostrich fern.  A delicacy to many, an unknown to most.  The plant that looks like the head of a fiddle grows in wet, moise areas along Maine waterways as a rule.  Learn everything you wanted to know about fiddleheads.  Fun to clean, steamed and with a little vinegar added eat! Have to fill your bag along the river and stream beds quickly as the little Maine black fly comes out this time of year too! The black flies don't like fiddleheads but your neck and arms look pretty good to their air force when on maneuvers. Learn more...everything about the Maine fiddlehead here!

Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, Houlton Broker Listing And Selling Maine Real Estate

Weather is a drug...a good elixir for whatever ails you. 

Maine had an old fashioned winter with record snowfall like many northern states.  So as the sunshines, snow melts, locals are venturing out to rake lawns, walk at dusk, and to just be glad to be outside full time as season's change. Maine canoe races underway with plenty of water for spring paddling in canoes and kayaks.  Plans for opening summer homes, taking school vacations with kids, building decks, washing down home exteriors, and general busy bee industry is evident thru out Maine.  In Houlton, the local dairy bar just opened so you know little league games are not far behind either as ice get removed from the Milliar Civic Center too.  Living in Maine and enjoying all four seasons is such a blessing. Blue blue skies, bright stars and fewer friendlier people with a real sense of community.  That's Maine..the way life should be. And to top it all, Big Papi just hit a grand slam in yesterday's Red Sox win.  Life is good in Red Sox Nation.  Last year at this time, took the kids to a Red Sox series with the New York Yankees in Boston and watch a three game sweep of the pinstripes.  Here's the Houlton Maine Parks and Recreation Department's Summer Guide for the youth too! Don't forget sign up for Nothern Maine Soap Box Derby 13th Race with deadline for racer registration May 1st! Plan your float for the Houlton Maine 4th parade too..over two hours long to walk..we take our parade, 4th and nation's independence pretty serious!