Jon Whitney

February in Maine means cold and snow most anytime. These conditions generally curtail a lot of activity in the lakefront property area, but afford opportunities for looking at other properties in ways not always taken advantage of.

Many of our clients are looking for land on which to build that special home. Often when a lakefront lot is not available or affordable, a client's second choice is for a view lot. In this area of Maine a view lot usually means an elevated parcel that affords clear views of surrounding lakes and mountains.

I was out riding around recently and drove up into a recent subdivision that I first saw last year. In June, the rough, dirt road was rutted and wet. The lots had been cut over, but still there were many trees around, fully leaved out. You couldn't always tell what the view was from a particular lot.

Today when I was up in the same subdivision the road was in much better shape. Gravel had been added and grading done and any place that was difficult in the past to drive over because of mud and ruts, was easy because today the road was frozen solid! No getting stuck in the mud today!

But the best part was to see the views. Magnificient! All the leaves are off the trees so I could clearly see what the developer had in mind - beautiful views of the White Mountains and Mount Washington.

Many trees are left to allow a new owner to decide how much to cut and how much to leave. In June my view was partially obstructed by the leaves on the trees. Now you can get an excellent idea of what your view would be without having to cut a tree prematurely.

Interested in a view lot? This is a great time to get out and have a look. Drive around and look for new subdivisions in elevated areas. Access roads are often kept plowed even if no construction has started.

Need some help? Try some of the search features on our website. We can help you find just the right lot at just the right price and you don't have to wait until spring to see it.

It may be cold out, but you can see for miles and miles.

For years, the Rangeley Lakes Region has attracted visitors who yearn for a quiet escape from the faster tempos of regular life. Located 4 1/2 hours from Boston, just travelling here can give one a true sense of "getting away from it all".

Nestled in the western mountains of Maine and off the beaten path, the Rangeley Lakes Region offers an experience that can not be found in the more southern or coastal areas of the state. The terrain here is different - the hills, valleys, and mountains are more numerous. Lakes and ponds of all sizes are found here and the fishing is still the best in Maine.

Perhaps the most impressionable feature of this area is the simple fact that there aren't that many people here. Consequently, fewer of the trappings of contemporary society that assault us in more populated areas are found here.

For those who crave peace and solitude, who revel in the majesty of Nature, and who long for a home or a getaway situated somewhere less touched by civilization, the Rangeley Lakes Region is the place for you.

The Rangeley Lakes include a half dozen large lakes and many smaller lakes and ponds. The larger lakes are Rangeley Lake (6302 acres / 149 feet deep), Mooselookmeguntic and Cupsuptic Lakes (16,359 acres / 132' ), Upper and Lower Richardson Lakes (7751 acres / 108' ), Aziscohos Lake (6872 acres / 60' ), Umbagog Lake (7767 acres / 48' ) which straddles the New Hampshire border, and Kennebago Lake (1764 acres / 28' ). Twenty-five miles to the northeast sits Flagstaff lake (17,380 acres / 48' ).

The two towns at the center of this region are Rangeley and, five miles to its west, Oquossoc. Together, their year round residents barely number 1000. There are, however, ample places to stay in the area and no end to the things you can do all year long - provided, of course, you enjoy outdoor recreation.

Lakefront Locator will get you to available listings in the Rangeley Lakes Area. LakeSmart, is a research tool that will give you important information about area lakes. If you would like to read recent news articles about this region, use our Lake News feature.

And, of course, if you have a question or need a friend in the business let us know. We love Maine's lakes and ponds and want to share them with you.

Recently I posted an article about the ongoing controversy swirling around several new proposals for the repair or replacement of the Causeway Bridge in Naples on Rte. 302. A news article today in our local Bridgton News tells me that the whole project is being put on hold pending further study.

There are currently three active proposals attracting consideration and the Maine Department of Transportation felt that it would be better to get more public input before choosing an option and proceeding with a schedule. The long and short of it is that nothing will be happening with the bridge in 2008.

I have posted the full article from the Bridgton News in our Lake News on our website and you can see it here.

You might be surprised to learn that most lakefront property here in Maine is purchased by folks "from away". From away usually refers to folks from Massachusetts, Connecticut or some other state here in the Northeast. The attitude these folks have about associations has always been peculiar to me.

A lakefront buyer will spend a whole lotta time finding just the right lakefront property and then will refuse to tender an offer until they have a chance to read the association bylaws and understand what the annual fees cover. It amuses me when a buyer is ready to buy a half million dollar second home but hesitates because he wants to understand what the annual dues of $150 per year cover. My only thought is that perhaps buyers from away have had to deal with terribly restrictive neighborhood associations back home and are justifiably concerned. Now, I'm all for due diligence. I'm not advocating carelessness, but remember, we're in rural Maine. Things are different up here.

Three Types of Neighborhood Associations

Road Associations - 90% of associations are for one purpose- Road maintenace. Many camp roads are private and not plowed or maintained by the town. Association dues are for snowplowing in Winter and grading in the Spring. That's it!

Homeowner Associations - Some neighborhoods have a lot more to maintain than just roads. For Example, the Knights Hill neighborhood in Bridgton on Moose Pond has an association beach area, clubhouse, canoe rack, marina, tennis courts, playgrounds and even a pool. Annual fees are over $700 per year.

Lake Associations - Often times a lakefront homeowner will be invited to join a lake association. Mostly voluntary, these organizations can have clout. For instance the Lake Associations for the Range Ponds in Poland successfully banned jetski use on the ponds. They wanted a quiet lake and now have one. Most lake associations are formed to maintain or improve water quality or fight an invasive species like milfoil.

Some Advice... I always advise our lakefront buyers to make an offer contingent upon the receipt and satisfactory review of association by laws within 10 days of the effective date of an agreement. If found unsatisfactory, agreement can be declared null and void and earnest money returned.

Conclusion... In all my years in real estate I've never had one deal unravel because of association by laws. So, here in Maine, if you want to paint your house purple, GO FOR IT!!

Contributed by my colleague Tom Ferent, MrLakefront.

The Belgrade Lakes Region is one of Maine's premier communities and four-season vacation and recreational destinations. The area offers peaceful lakeside surroundings, superb fishing, as well as swimming, boating and hiking. A variety of shops, restaurants, and lodging choices await the weekend visitor, vacationer, or year round resident.

With their many seasonal events, boat tours, golf courses, hikes, or easy trips to the scenic Maine coast and area mountains, the greater Belgrade Lakes area provides multitudes of opportunities for fun and recreation throughout the year.

While the greater Belgrade region includes the China Lakes area to the east and the Winthrop lakes area to the south, the actual Belgrade Lakes are usually defined by a chain of seven fresh water lakes ranging in size from 500 acres to 8,000 acres. All the lakes feature excellent fishing and boating and all have state maintained boat launches for easy accessibility. The seven lakes, in decending order of size, are:

The China Lakes area, located just east of Maine's capitol city of Augusta, is comprised primarily of four water bodies - China Lake (3939 acres/ 85' deep), Webber Pond (1233 acres/ 41' deep), Three Mile Pond (1174 acres/ 37' deep), and Togus Pond (674 acres/ 49' deep), and five towns - Augusta, Windsor, China, Vassalboro and Winslow.

To the south of the Belgrade Lakes and west of Augusta is the Winthrop Lakes region. Scattered amongst the towns and villages of West Gardiner, Manchester, Monmouth, Winthrop, Leeds, Wayne, Readfield and Fayette are a dozen lakes and ponds, the most prominent of which are Cobbosseecontee Lake (5236 acres), Androscoggin Lake (4020 acres), Maranacook Lake (1844 acres), Lake Annabessacook (1415 acres) and Echo Lake (1109 acres).

All of these areas are about 3 1/2 hours from Boston with easy access to the Maine Turnpike.

Whether a destination for a vacation retreat, second home, or relocation, the greater Belgrade Lakes area offers something for all ages and seasons. The Greater Belgrade Lakes Area - where quality of life is the "Maine" attraction.

Lakefront Locator will get you to available listings in the Belgrade Lakes Area. LakeSmart, is a research tool that will give you important information about area lakes. If you have a question or need a friend in the business let us know. We love Maine's lakes and ponds and want to share them with you.