Mooers Realty Blog

The reasons Maine real estate buyers pick a location are many.

And one question that tops the list is there a Walmart in Houlton Maine? Yes there is Dorothy. Walmart Store #1974 is located at 17 Ludlow Road, Houlton Maine. Just before the Shop And Save grocery store and across from the Maine Tourist Information Center.

You can frequent the Wally World in Houlton Maine.

We no doubt will bump into each other from time to time.

Wheeling the wire cart around, up and down the eyes looking for the lowest price.

Walmart, always the lowest price right?

Or trek north about 40 miles to another Walmart in Presque Isle Maine.

Maybe hop the International border after the last exit 305 on I-95. And go through the automatic double doors at the Walmart in Woodstock, New Brunswick Canada.

So we have you covered for your Walmart outlets for shopping in the Houlton Maine area.

What is important to any of us varies. But some queries just top the list when a buyer is looking, hunting for property listings in Houlton Maine's Southern Aroostook area.

Closing costs on a Maine real estate property sale, what to expect?

What are they going to be? Well for starters if you are trying to get just as low as possible closing costs, paying cash helps.

No bank overhead for the mortgage process in underwriting a loan makes the out of pocket expenses lighter at the real estate closing.

Owner financing a property in Maine means no bank.

But the cost to prepare the promissory note, the first mortgage on the property legal documents.

Recording those legal instruments at the local county registry of deeds where the property is located are an expense.

But back to that bank financed sale. The associated costs like a lender's title insurance premium charge, the origination fees, document preparation charges and more nickel and dime line items on the HUD-1 settlement statement can add up.

And under the heading of "closing costs" there are pro-ration of property taxes, heating oil that show up with the legal fees.

Along with the property appraisal charges and all the inspectors that eyeball the property and it's title. To make sure everything is kosher. Up to speed and hunky dory.

 What is it like where the property listing for sale in Maine is located?

To a local real estate buyer, why tell the local community story? They just want to jump right into what is for sale.

To begin the sorting, matchmaking and filtering to find the one property for sale in Maine that is just the right listing.

To fit their needs to a "T" at this point in time.

That works well for the season in their life they find themselves in currently.

So local details on the area are best addressed in the videos that promote it. The blog posts that spill the details, paint the local community picture. An area wide approach to the tell me about your area completes the missing information.

The out of town or state or country buyer of Maine real estate knows what the different areas where he or she has lived are like.

They need to know much more about where they are considering investing a big chunk of money.

Because little is often known about the new job location assignment in small rural Maine. Or the spot that makes the short list of places to retire and relocate to now or down the road.

Nothing makes a person feel all alone and out of the loop like traveling and you're off line.

Wifi for Internet if you are heading due north in Maine. So when you roll into Houlton Maine, taking that left or right off Interstate 95 exit 302, getting hooked up is key. All fueled, you and the vehicle you drive. Plus connected on the Internet is key.

So for starters who is providing Internet in Houlton Maine? 

And when you roll off the highway, either I-95 or US Rt 1, 2, 2A, what is there for options to park the car or SUV, camper. And to see lots of bars of a rich, constant wifi signal for Internet use?

To search. And hone in, pick up and lock on a wireless Internet signal? To catch up on emails. To let folks you love, the family and friends know you made it safe and sound. To the County Seat of Aroostook County, Houlton Maine. 

Well the Tourist Information Center just off exit 302 in Houlton Maine is a good place to start.

Hit the bathroom, stretch those legs, and tap the keyboard to log on. Located at 28 Ludlow Road, Houlton Maine, the rest stop is loaded with propaganda on fun stuff to do.

If you can hang around and spend some time in this border town with Canada directly to the east. The province of New Brunswick and being the gateway to Atlantic Canada makes the Houlton Maine port of entry one busy place. Especially during school vacations, summer break for the kids.

Buying Maine land for sale, all patches of dirt are not the same.

The drainage, lay of the land in Maine is part of the consideration on which property listing stands out brightest. In the pick the property when talking Maine land acreage.

But the actual soil profile, the type of soil as you auger down into the Maine land.

Or scoop a box here, a sample there. To whisk away to the University of Maine or some other labratory to do a soil analysis. To see what you have.

To learn the PH and how much lime, fertilzer is needed. Especially when considering the use for the Maine land for sale that you had in mind.

Soil can get depleted. Worn out.

Some soil profiles make the Maine land better suited for pasturing animals and not planting, cultivating row crops.

Ledge or bedrock just below the land surface could be lurking. Right up until the tractor hauling the chisel plow or spring tooth harrow comes into a loud contact. And subsequent sound of broken equipment that soon follows.

So what do we have for Maine land, the underneath all is the soil? And the condition of the wooded sections of the Maine land, if the property acreage is in the tree growth program. All is important information. To use in considering what to buy for Maine land. Which works best.

We have soil and water conservation books on the profile of the area Maine land we list and sell. One for the north and south sections of Aroostook County. Other books for Washington, Penobscot County soil profiles.

Providing the aerial views and designations of the soil profile. The listing of all the soil profiles and what each is all about. To know what part of the land for sale is Caribou loam or Thondike, Monarda profile type. Just looking at the species growing on the wooded sections tells you what the soil maps provide.

When you harness the Internet and feed the "information bear", lots of wonderful things happen in the exposure.

The reach beyond the local areas means it is like moving out of the shallow end of the marketing pool.

And going out over your head but enjoying the feeling. Of marketing around the globe. After you get your bearings and focus on just how to do that best using which platforms and search engine marketing tactics.

Things have changed in marketing real estate listings in Maine.

No longer is it stick a sign in the lawn.

Or nail one to the tree.

And then an ad inserted for a few lines of copy once in awhile in the local newsprint.

No no, the exposure and real estate advertising has to hit more sets of eyeballs, eardrums. And what we promote is not just what is described, titled in the real estate deeds.More than just talking about the property listings.

How special Maine is comes up in most daily Maine real estate discussions.

We don't use black and white Poloroids that you peel back and coat to preserve.

The purchase and sale contract agreements don't get hand delivered to the attorney or banks either. Now scanned, easy to read copies are richocheted around the horn.

In the kid's card game, being short suited in something is not good if you are anxious to get rid of your cards.

Real estate property sales has the same approach. Solar homes for sale in Maine is not a well stocked property type but we do list, market, sell them.

Or we find the land for a solar home in Maine and help in the construction process or who can do this and that. 

In building a solar powered house, one that is passive and active.

In using the sun's rays to the maximum when it shines and can be harvested.

We listed a solar home in Maine property this week.

Details on the property listing at 35 High Street Houlton Maine 04730. Watch the video in the link.

But what if you are thinking solar homes in Maine, and have an idea of what you want the place to look like? To take the time to piece by piece put together the solar house puzzle pieces.

Where do you turn for a resource to get to to speed on solar homes and the latest technology to go with that type of housing?

The owner of the place we listed using passive and solar for heating, power reached out to the Mother Earth News people. Also to the Whole Earth catalog reviews.

Back in 1992 and steadily added to the array of cells. That switched from Nicad to hydrogen based batteries. Putting up the 24 solar panels and 1500 gallon holding tank that is heavily insulated to contain, store the energy from the Sun.

Traffic control, setting up showings, making sure real estate appraisers, home inspectors have little or no delay.

Along with the Maine real estate property buyer and seller in working around everyone's schedule.

Knowing sometimes no matter how hard you try, it is never fast enough or speed of thought easy.

But driving by a property in Maine for sale first can produce a never mind.

Homes too close or traffic too heavy.

No curb appeal.

No breathing space around the sticks and bricks.

What is next door to what is for sale too looking like Stephen King made a movie at the location.

We find with video for Maine real estate the time is best used.

For everyone involved in the listing, selling of a Maine real estate listing.

Because the video for the real estate is not just focused on the house, homes, structures on the land. But where is it, what are you looking at in all directions.

Telling and showing the online buyer of real estate in Maine that this is what you get. What you do not and should not expect.

Big real estate markets have lots of professionals crowded around the trough.

You gotta have a stager to get the house ship shape. You need a REALTOR to watch over the building process.

You need an attorney with an esquire after his or her name.

To eyeball the bank paperwork, represent all the interests.

And everyone else needs to lawyer up too. 

All the chairs around the long conference room table get used in large real estate market closings. You need insurance for this, this and oh yeah that.

The tab for the layers of players, all the A - Z inspectors built into all those zero places in the purchase price tag of the real estate listings.

In a small rural Maine real estate market, all that changes. The prices for the property listings are low hanging.

Closer to the ground which means simple happens. The buyers and sellers we deal with are not just highly specialized in one area and severely lacking or blind in others.

No no, the hands on way folks are raised in Maine means you are not a stranger to power tools. Very hands on and confident from experiences growing up.

How long can a dock be on a Maine camp?

Are there rules and regulations that spell out the specific length a dock out in front of your waterfront property/ Or the material that must be used? The answer to the lengh of a dock is that the length is not limited. Except for safety sake.

If your dock is going beyond just allowing the Maine lake camp owner to hop in for a spin.

To enjoy all that a Maine lake property offers for scenery.

The setting surrounded by trees and a playground to wildlife of all kinds.

To have the boat you pilot on a Maine lake from the camp, cottage or home.

To be able to motor freely glide in and out of it's mooring spot.

After the playtime is done. For a place to park those floating lake water toys.

And not become a navigational hazard because the dock may be too far out into a traffic lane situation. That needs to be addressed before something awful happens.

Before an accident, someone gets hurt out in front of your Maine lake property that had the dock, wharf too long.

Maine game wardens out on the lake to check fishing licenses and monitor the wetting the line and the take.

Those men and woman in dark green can also observe navigational hazards that could be due to a Maine lake camp dock just too long, where it should not be.

Or for night slow revolutions around a lake in Maine, those boats with the green and red front bow lights. The rear white lamp don't want to be bumping into a dock, a wharf that extends into their watery lane of movements.

Reflectors are not a bad idea on whatever dock you extend out in front of your Maine lake camp property.

You are on a life important mission, the hunt for properties for sale in Maine.

What exactly are you after? Because there are real estate markets within the bigger pool the listings swim in. Homes, houses in Maine for sale are not the only flavor.

Lots of land in Maine, commercial property and water front listings to pick from and in all price ranges, locatons.

So drilling down through what is available means applying the filter.

To cut to the chase on the properties listings for sale in Maine that make the cut.

End up being the one. Or pretty darn close to it. Money is usually can object that narrows the selection of which one to select. And timing is everything in real estate in Maine, in life.

We get asked a lot about the how's the Maine real estate local market. Have to ask which one...to clarify what the property listing for sale in Maine real estate buyer is really sniffing out. To be sure the right advice and direction is taken to serve them best.

The reasons to move, relocate to Maine.

The small town living values, pitch in and get involved makes the Maine connection strong. Kids are king and family is everything. You know safety is a given too in the 4th lowest crime state that Maine is.

Just finished up working the Maine State Soap Box Derby Race for year 2015.

The new crop of drivers makes the event new and different. Kids have an energy. The fun and grins, laughter is contagious.

You can be a kid with the lower to the ground younger ones, little people.

Some adults forget what fun is and can become sticks in the mud. Too serious and uptight because they don't remember.

Or maybe adults are just too busy to make time for the many children oriented youth events in small Maine towns.

The request for properties in Maine, we field lots of those.

Never boring and always something new to match make. To come up with the list of gotta have, don't want in the real estate listings.

And to size up the abilities of the property buyer.

And if a bank loan is involved, what the mortgage underwriter must see done for the clear to close. 

Expectations of the Maine real estate listing buyer.

Those in the audience might think real estate agents, brokers, REALTORS try to make properties into something beyond what they are. Thinking sales, arm twisting to convince to buy is the name of the game.

Today it is all about exposure, marketing honestly and fully to save time.

To paint the picture. Video especially show and tells best. The Maine real estate for sale in the listing inventory. In broadcasting the local area community flavor best too. Nothing shows the spark of the local Maine small town way of life like video.

A few questions need to be asked before listing, selling a property in Maine.

Prior to starting the production of real estate marketing, the purchase, some time to reflect has to happen. Are you ready? Timing, timing, timing is the new mantra of real estate professionals.

Replacing the all important three "L" mentality of location trumps everything in real estate property sales.

Sure a great location is key.

But not if the timing to buy it, sell it is way off.

Or even possible.

How much is owed on the property and all the improvements added up is not the way to arrive at the stick price of a property.

The desire to get out of the rent rut and buy does not mean now is the time either. Getting pre-approved for a bank loan on real estate has to happen first and foremost.

Because getting excited browsing for a place, a property to call your own is one thing. Being able to get front row seats to a real estate closing is another thing. To actual buy what you are touring and considering should be figured out going in.

Not stalled and the towel thrown in when the real estate professional players involved to make it happen shake their heads side to side.

The smile on the lips is pointed down, the wrong way. Because not in a position to buy today is learned too late. After everyone else involved in a real estate property sale gets pulled into the suction. That ends up like a story with an unhappy ending that no one likes.

The sunshine overhead a Maine field means activity on the farm land.

Busy, early days and spring planting ending well into the darkness on a farm in Maine. The expression making hay while the sunshines is appropiate.

To match the activity of Maine farms this time of year.

On the harvest end of things too.

Had the chance to climb into the cab of something green when raised running Maine farm tractors of the red color.

The John Deere 4055 with four wheel drive, air conditioning, surround sound and GPS made the farming process different. Then climbing up into the seat with no tinted glass command center to run the farm tractor operations.

To do the same farming preparation in slightly less high tech ways.

On an open seat IH 806, a Super M, etc with slightly less wide equipment and horsepower pulling it. Not so many expensive farm implements in tow behind the bigger and better tools for food production.

Answering the phone or responding to emails sent to a Maine real estate office, common themes emerge.

Pretty quickly in the conversation they surface loud and clear. And most fall under the same category with one major heading. The one generating responses to the question "is there something missing in your life?"

Lack of space outside Maine is part of it.

Think about it.

If you lack space, are crowded shoulder to shoulder like sardines packed tightly.

It causes boatloads of problems in human interaction.

Too much traffic, high cost of living, no one making eye contact or displaying common manners and respect. The knot around the jugular tightens.

Everything can go to heck in a hand basket quickly when space is not at a premium.

That's not enjoyable, lacks peace and quiet, is not simple living in Maine.

The call for a listing of Maine real estate property comes in.

Anxious seller wants to know if you can be there in ten minutes. List the place right now. Major hurry, short and curt, and here we go. You the real estate professional come into the picture number two, three or more in line as the listing agent or broker.

The REALTOR tapped to drive the dog and pony.

To get the property listed, the marketing machine cranked up and humming nicely.

To produce prospects to lead to showings that have to happen before a closing can happen.

During the listing, a run down of how no good, worth nothing the last agent or several listing brokers were on the property.

The venom making the property owner feel better and blaming the guy or gal with the color scheme on the front lawn last for the delayed real estate sale.

Sometimes the property owners asks questions about what do you think about brand X and meaning here is your chance to reach down. Cast a few stones into the fray.

Nope. I love what I do and put the energies into positive directions. To work hard to get the job done and a SOLD sign parked out front that leads to other listings, sales because results happen.

You are the owner of a property, the thought of selling the real estate is on your mind.

A few things that sellers do to hurt not help the chances of a successful real estate sale. It all starts with the motivation, are you really sure you want to or not as the property owner letting go?

Not sure, but anxious for the let's stick a real estate sign in the lawn and give it a whirl just the same.

Oh oh.

Start shelling out the advertising dollars to crank up the exposure, increase the reach for prospects as the real estate agent, broker, REALTOR.

But when a buyer ready, willing and able is located by the real estate professional, will you follow through with the sale? If not so sure, slow down. Let's talk. Think this one over.

In your heart of hearts, as the owner of the property listing being marketed, are you up for the trip to long conference room table or not?

For the paperwork signing to transfer the title to the property. And to move along with your life to the next real estate adventure.

If there is doubt, don't list. You are not ready and instead of hoping you get used to the idea of allowing a real estate sale to happen, wait. For everyone's benefit.

No waste of time, money, emotion until you are sure in your heart and head that let's get this place sold.

Second, if you the property owner are not ready to sell for a realistic value, but would for a price in excess of the real today appraisal. Wait. Don't do it. Or better yet as the real estate agent or broker, don't take the listing.

Because the real estate professional is suppose to know. Sets the expectations, helps in the navigating from listing to property closing. Deals whole heartedly with the kinks and knots along the way.

In spring in Maine, a young real estate broker's attention, focus turns to exterior picture taking.

Shooting video loops of what is going on around the outside of the property listing taken when snow drifts were forming on the front and side, rear lawns.

Spring is never a wake up one day and winter is gone.

The transition into mud season while the frost disappears and oozes up from the surface of the ground can be a two week or longer affair.

This spring in Maine we had a lot of winter snow unlike Colorado that feeds California with their water supply.

No drought in Maine this spring or any of them for high water for the Maine canoe and kayak races now underway for paddlers chasing the circuit.

So back to the thoughts, whims of the Maine real estate broker. I showed three properties yesterday that were new listings. Was able to snap lots of images of the exteriors around some Maine homes.

That are better than the snow ones look from a few months back. But still not quite the right timing for rich green grass. For developed buds, leaves on the tree.

And yard work in Maine door yards this spring is like an air raid siren is sounding.

Everyone that did not snow blow, has grooves, rolled back turf in piles that in places still have ice, snow mixed under them. The dark covering of sod shields and slows the return to spring programing around Maine properties. As winter hangs on but has long lost the battle as spring marches in.

Handicap friendly Maine homes for sale, those are always in demand.

Because the owner is not so wild about scaling stairs. Physically challenged happens slowly.

Or the Maine home owner has a loved one that might want to live under the same roof line.

Maybe that visits a lot to say howdy.

And easy to get around, handicap friendly Maine homes for sale. Are one attractive property listing type because of the folks that spend time there.

So the more the merrier can happen inside the four walls of the Maine home.

With the older housing stock in Maine, larger square footages happen a lot. We recycle the homes. Not build them hundreds at a time to resell. Cookie cutter homes in Maine are not the norm like lots of other areas in the country.

Big Maine homes, big families to work the farms, the small businesses.

Because lots of kids was the norm. Not the 1.6 average family size today.

So when you have a Maine house for sale with a dozen rooms, you can bet a first first bedroom is going to be in the mix for property listing features.

So is the option to use a portion of the living space for a home business. Especially handy if you are bring your out of state job to Maine. To telecommute to Maine for work.