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Androscoggin County, ME Real Estate News

By Kristen Wheatley, Supporting Success - Best Job in the World!
(Better Homes & Gardens | The Masiello Group)
Stunning Passive Solar Home For Sale in Durham Maine! This 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath home nestled on 2 private acres in Beautiful Durham Maine displays true quality througout.  Offering country living in an area of fine homes and an easy commute to Portland, Brunswick, Freeport, and Lewiston/Auburn.  The home has been consistently and impeccably maintained.   The 2 story Solarium and special construction features are a hallmark of this "envelope home."  They keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  It would be hard to find a more energy efficient home of this size in Maine.  Be sure to watch the video tour below and please do contact me if you know of anyone who would love this home.  See more photos and details here: http://66countrylane.realbird.com/  
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By Kristen Wheatley, Supporting Success - Best Job in the World!
(Better Homes & Gardens | The Masiello Group)
MAINE REAL ESTATE SALES UP 20 PERCENT; PRICES CLIMB 7.06 PERCENT IN AUGUST This is the headline of the latest press release from the Maine Association of Realtors.  However, as you can imagine, headlines (and even some statistics) don't always tell the full story.  So what do the latest figures mean to you? Most Maine counties saw an increase in both the number of sales and the median sale price for this past quarter when compared to the same period last year.  This does give indications that our real estate market is strong and on it's way to recovery.  However, an increase in the median sales price does not necessarily indicate that prices have gone up. Here in Androscoggin county, when we dig a little bit deeper, we see that prices are holding, but the increase in median sales price ...
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By Kristen Wheatley, Supporting Success - Best Job in the World!
(Better Homes & Gardens | The Masiello Group)
3 Unit Building - Live in one and let your tenants pay your rent! OverviewMapsPhotosFeatures Video $170,000 Multi Family Main Features 6 Bedrooms3 Bathrooms3 UnitsInterior: 2,470 sqftLot: 0.23 acre(s) Location 24 Jefferson StreetAuburn, ME 04210USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Kristen Wheatley The Maine Real Estate Network(207) 240-2250mainehomeseller@gmail.comhttp://www.homeseller.me   Listed by: The Maine Real Estate Network Our recent listings West Paris Village Home For SaleYear Round Mount Abram Retreat >>Just Reduced<<6 Beautiful Acres With 2 HomesUpdated West Auburn Home For Sale or Lease PurchaseElegant Home With Lake Access Subscribe to our listing feed Nearby properties for sale
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By Kristen Wheatley, Supporting Success - Best Job in the World!
(Better Homes & Gardens | The Masiello Group)
Updated West Auburn Home For Sale or Lease Purchase OverviewMapsPhotosFeatures Video $143,500 Single Family Home Main Features 2 Bedrooms2 BathroomsInterior: 1,185 sqftLot: 1.50 acre(s) Location 297 North Auburn RoadAuburn, ME 04210USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Kristen Wheatley The Maine Real Estate Network(207) 240-2250mainehomeseller@gmail.comhttp://www.homeseller.me   Listed by: The Maine Real Estate Network Our recent listings West Paris Village Home For SaleYear Round Mount Abram Retreat >>Just Reduced<<6 Beautiful Acres With 2 HomesUpdated West Auburn Home For Sale or Lease PurchaseElegant Home With Lake Access Subscribe to our listing feed Nearby properties for sale
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By Kristen Wheatley, Supporting Success - Best Job in the World!
(Better Homes & Gardens | The Masiello Group)
Last month, a string of fires in downtown Lewiston claimed 10 apartment buildings and left almost 200 people homeless.  Fortunately there were no fatalities and only minor injuries.  The community rallied together to help those affected by the fires, but the events also brought to light a problem that has been brewing for decades.  Century old buildings that have been allowed to deteriorate to a dangerous level. A once thriving mill town, Lewiston has had it's ups and downs, but has enjoyed something of a renaissance over the last 10 years with new businesses moving in to the downtown area and renovating the beautiful old structures that have defined the city.  The inventory of apartment buildings however, has not enjoyed the same renaissance. Larry Baril of Lewiston gives a great asses...
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By Kristen Wheatley, Supporting Success - Best Job in the World!
(Better Homes & Gardens | The Masiello Group)
Get Inspired Outdoors in Lewiston and Auburn Maine Yes, you can help the Tree Street Youth Center in Lewiston Maine win a grant by simply taking a few moments to watch their great video.  In partnership with the Androscoggin Land Trust, they submitted their video to the "Get Inspired Outdoors" grant program.  The video submission that gets the most views will earn a $2000 grant to continue their work. The twin cities of Lewiston and Auburn Maine are committed to ensuring that everyone gets the opportunity to explore and enjoy our incredible natural surroundings.  Thank you for taking a few minutes to help this great organization!  
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By Kristen Wheatley, Supporting Success - Best Job in the World!
(Better Homes & Gardens | The Masiello Group)
Many people may not realize that Auburn Maine is the proud home of the area's best skiing.  Lost Valley is tucked away on a back road right in the City of Auburn.  It is the home of Auburn's annual Winter Fest and a favorite haunt of residents of all ages.  Check out the latest video below.  If you'd love to live close to this wicked awesome ski area, look at the map below the video.  297 North Auburn Road is available and located only 3.9 miles from Lost Valley!   You could live just minutes away from Lost Valley in this affordable, updated 2-3 bedroom bungalow.
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By Kristen Wheatley, Supporting Success - Best Job in the World!
(Better Homes & Gardens | The Masiello Group)
The Median Home Price Is Up, So My Home Is Worth More...right?Press releases have touted a steady rise in median home prices in Maine over the past several months.  Yes, this trend is good news for Maine home sellers, but what does it actually mean for your home’s market value?As detailed in the press releases, the “median sales price" is basically the middle.  Half of the homes sold for more, and half of the homes sold for less.  While the steady increase does show a trend, it does not automatically translate into the same percentage increase in the value of your home.Here in Androscoggin County Maine, the latest statistics showed a 5.6% increase in median sales price over the same period last year (see stats below.)  However, a more detailed analysis of the homes sold, shows that much...
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By Tanya Busch, Maine Real Estate
(The Maine Real Estate Network)
 Anyone who is buying a house in the Lewiston-Auburn or the Augusta Market -- or even just checking up on the market -- is likely to find that some of the rules of the game seem to have shifted. Particularly anyone expecting to be overwhelmed by the kind of amazing deals being offered in the last few years should see what I mean.  The Maine Association of Realtors continues to paint an upbeat picture, at least when it comes to bargain-priced properties, the days of multiple bids and ‘offers above asking price’ are back (for properties priced competitively).  If you are weighing the advantages of buying a house in Lewiston, Auburn, or Augusta before interest rates and prices rise in earnest, it should be useful to take a look at some strategies that work -- and some that virtually never...
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By Tanya Busch, Maine Real Estate
(The Maine Real Estate Network)
  The holiday décor is down; the kids are back in school; January’s social calendar looks amazingly clear (compared with the previous two months, anyway)… so, what now?  One suggestion I might offer: put some serious thought into acting on those financial New Year’s resolutions – at least the ones dealing with your Central Maine real estate plans. Doing so would dovetail nicely with my own New Year’s prediction, one I share with many credible real estate watchers: 2013 may be the year buyers and sellers are going to really get serious about real estate. According to Money Magazine on CNN’s website, the housing market rebound is here. Among other sources, they site the Mortgage Bankers Association forecast that “more and more house hunters will start coming off the sidelines.” They expec...
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By Tanya Busch, Maine Real Estate
(The Maine Real Estate Network)
Yes! Activity level is up! Especially for this time of year. Interest rates are at an all time low and it’s an opportune time to buy or move up! When you visit any of the properties for sale in Lewiston-Auburn or Central Maine, this time of year, it’s likely you will notice a little extra sparkle.   The holiday touches may be variations on the icy blue-and-white color palette -- or dashes of silver brightening the traditional red-and-green decorations. If you’ve been reading the home décor magazines, you know how the leading trends this winter are all about glitz and glam: designer touches meant to brighten even the darkest winter day (remember, this year’s shortest day -- December 21 – is right around the corner!). Still, I always suspect that a little nostalgic holiday warmth can add...
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By Kristen Wheatley, Supporting Success - Best Job in the World!
(Better Homes & Gardens | The Masiello Group)
I can thank my son for these photos.  He claimed to be bored this afternoon.  I know... crazy!  You live in vacation land, and you're bored?   A quick (2 minute) drive down the hill to the Auburn Riverwalk solved the problem.  There are so many nooks and crannies off the path to explore and enjoy.    
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By Lisa Hicks, Serving Central and Southern Maine
(Hoang Realty)
Wordless Wednesday - Through the Spider's Eyes     Dual spider webs in the late afternoon sun look like eyes.     This picture was taken in Leeds, Maine at the entrance gate to Camp Tekakwitha, a French-speaking summer camp on the shore of Androscoggin Lake.  For 65 years, this 250+ acre summer camp has housed french-speaking children ages 8 to 17.      
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By Kristen Wheatley, Supporting Success - Best Job in the World!
(Better Homes & Gardens | The Masiello Group)
Here in Maine, we generally like to take things at a slower pace.  However, even here, there are days when you see some folks rushing about doing "things that make you go hmmmm."  Yesterday was one of those days for me.  With school starting and more kiddos on the sidewalks, and the events of yesterday, I realized a review of Maine pedestrian/vehicle laws and practicalities was in order. While traveling up Court Street in Auburn, a 25mph road heading through a residential neighborhood, I could see up ahead a group of teenagers waiting patiently to cross.  I was at least 250 feet away, and the last bit of traffic coming in the other direction had just passed so I slowed and then stopped anticipating that they may take this moment to cross.  They did.  Then, bounding over the crest of the...
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By Tanya Busch, Maine Real Estate
(The Maine Real Estate Network)
Some of us have decided that life is too short to spend any time behind a lawnmower. Others decide that the real reason we have a mate is so that we can offer him or her the opportunity to get out in the fresh air and sunshine…to mow. Children can be the recipients of that very same opportunity, which will build character through hard work. Alternatively, a healthy lawn – especially a well-watered one in late August – provides an opportunity to keep the Lewiston-Auburn economy humming by employing a lawn service to keep it in top shape. But for those of us who personally oversee the yardwork, earlier this month, CNN’s Money website put together a four-point tip sheet that caught my eye: it rounded up some of the best common sense lawn care ideas I’ve seen in one place. The author (Josh...
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By Kristen Wheatley, Supporting Success - Best Job in the World!
(Better Homes & Gardens | The Masiello Group)
I've been trying to transition myself to a "morning person" for a while now...unsuccessfully. This morning, my husband needed to be somewhere very early, so it was a great chance for me to jump start and force my transition.  While out and about here in Auburn Maine, I finally got to see what morning looks like.  I think I could get used to this.
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By Kristen Wheatley, Supporting Success - Best Job in the World!
(Better Homes & Gardens | The Masiello Group)
My House Didn’t Sell...Now What?Time to ask the hard questions.As a Lewiston-Auburn Maine Realtor®, I speak with many home sellers who are feeling the pain and frustration of of being left with an unsold home at the end of their listing agreement with another agent. The art and science of selling a home comes down to three factors:  Price, Condition, and Marketing.  These factors must be in sync in order to realize a successful sale.  Having gone through this myself before my life in the real estate world, I know all too well the toll an unsold home can have on a family and how annoying it can be to stop and examine what went wrong.  Was it my fault?  Was it my agent?  Do I expect too much?A year and 2 agents after we first listed our previous home, we were left without a successful sal...
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By Kristen Wheatley, Supporting Success - Best Job in the World!
(Better Homes & Gardens | The Masiello Group)
Tuesday, August 7th, 2012 5:30-DuskFestival Plaza (on Main Street) Auburn MaineNational Night Out is America's annual Night Out Against Crime.  This fun and unique crime and drug prevention event is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch as well as many local organizations and celebrated by more than 15,000 communities across the country, Canada, and military bases worldwide.2012 marks the 10th year the Auburn Police Department has organized this free public event.  This year's event promises to be one of the best yet.  Beginning Tuesday, August 7th at 5:30 and continuing until dusk, Auburn residents and visitors will enjoy free food, games, and music as well as demonstrations by the K-9, bicycle, and motorcycle teams of the Auburn PD and demonstrations by the Auburn Fire D...
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By Tanya Busch, Maine Real Estate
(The Maine Real Estate Network)
Buying a Lewiston-Auburn Foreclosure Property?  “Fixers” Reward Prudence, Realism, and Cash   These days the words “bank owned homes” have become practically synonymous with a single word: “opportunity.”  With prices and mortgage rates this low, first time home buyers, investors and seasoned property owners alike are looking at a raft of buying options unlike any the Lewiston-Auburn and Central Maine area has seen in a very long time.     That option of buying a bank owned home has certainly opened a viable route for those looking to own a home at the fraction of what it cost just a few years ago. But not without a price:  the best Lewiston-Auburn bank owned home bargains are almost certain to fall into the ‘fixer-upper’ category.   When considering the purchase of one of our Lewiston-A...
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By Kristen Wheatley, Supporting Success - Best Job in the World!
(Better Homes & Gardens | The Masiello Group)
The number of new listings is holding steady with an average of 20 homes coming on to the market each week.  Nine homes went under contract and three homes closed on their sales for the week of May 6, 2012 through May 12, 2012.   We continue to see homes selling very close to, at, or even sometimes above list price.  This past week is a good example.  One of the three homes sold, sold at 96% of list price and the other 2 sold above their listed price.  The greatest activity is occuring for homes listed below $150,000, although we are seeing a growing number of buyers looking for homes in the $175,000-$250,000 range. Weekly Market Activity Residential Properties: 05/06/12 - 05/12/12 Lewiston-Auburn Maine New Listings This Week 21 Homes That Went Under Contract This Week 9 Closed Home Sal...
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Androscoggin County, ME Real Estate Professionals