Happy Birthday Jean Stafford!

I was listening to Morning Edition on Maine Public Radio this morning and heard Garrison Keillor talk about the Pulitzer Prize winning author Jean Stafford during his Writer's Almanac segment. I can't say that I have read her works or had even heard of her a year ago but I have learned a lot about her since I discovered that I was selling her former home in the Damariscotta Mills section of Newcastle on Damariscotta Lake. She lived there with her husband, the Pulitzer Prize winning poet Robert Lowell, for a time in the 40's. You can listen to the podcast here. So if two Pulitzer Prize winning authors lived in the house you can just imagine how much creative energy the home is waiting to bestow on its next owner.

Tom Field

New Offering at Spruce Point

    The other morning Tracy and I headed down to Boothbay Harbor to get photos and information for a new listing. It was a sunny day, good for taking pictures and for enjoying the ride.  This listing is a condominium at Spruce Point, one of six units on the grounds of the famous Spruce Point Inn.

   As you drive towards Spruce Point from town, the motels give way to individual homes, and the waters of Boothbay Harbor stretch out to your right.  Nearing Spruce Point, you are taken in by the meticulously kept landscaping of lovely homes and glimpses of the water beyond.  Entering Spruce Point, the whole ocean view opens up.

   The condo has two bedrooms, two and one half baths, a large open concept living and dining room with a fireplace, a deck on the upper level and a screened porch on the first floor.  The new owner will have access to all the facilities of the Inn including the pool, tennis courts, spa and deep water dock.

  Boothbay Harbor is an active, comfortable vacation destination for many people. There are an abundance of accommodations, shops and restaurants.  Summer activities include tour boats, whale watching, fishing, tennis, golfing, hiking, biking, walking, theater, movies, world class botanical gardens, nature preserves and more.

   Although Summer is the season that attracts most people to Maine and the Mid Coast initially, it isn't our only season.  As Summer gives way to Autumn, the leaves begin to change from their many hues of green to Maine's famous Fall colors, and another wave of visitors arrives.  Winter brings its own beauty along the coast of Maine as occasional snows top the pine trees and blanket the ground and create beautiful scenes looking across a foggy ocean under gray skies.  Spring emerges as the temperatures rise and the explosion of color begins.  First the crocuses, then the daffodils and forsythia add their brilliant yellows and white and purple lilacs, dogwoods, rhododendrons and azaleas in their many colors burst forth and Summer arrives once more.

   Our work done we headed back to Newcastle Square Realty and our office.  For more information on this great property or the Boothbay Area call us soon.

Bill Babcock
 
  

Exciting New Offerings

On Johns Bay, near Pemaquid Point.

On the Damariscotta River, in South Bristol.

On Poorhouse Cove, also in South Bristol, quite close to Christmas Cove.

On the Sheepscot River in Edgecomb

Call one of our Brokers today for more information and to arrange a private showing of any or all of these fine waterfront homes!
 
 
 
 

Newly Listed in Round Pond

   This updated 1850's farmhouse and barn sit on a high spot with vistas of fields and Round Pond Harbor from almost every room. Located on the quiet and peaceful Back Shore Road, the home sits on 5 acres and is just a short stroll from the Village and Town Dock.

   The Living Room has a large picture window to bring the view in and a wood stove to keep things warm and cozy on winter evenings. There is a modern kitchen, three bedrooms, a downstairs den and an upstairs office plus a large unfinished room over the two car attached garage. The barn and sturdy shed provide all the storage any gentleman farmer could need.

   Round Pond is a picturesque village within the Town of Bristol and takes its name from the shape of the cove it surrounds. It has its own Post Office, several Lobster Pounds, a restaurant, small market, and the best candy store anywhere. Old fashioned church steeples dot the landscape and fishing boats lay at anchor in the harbor alongside pleasure boats in an excellent protected anchorage with close proximity to Gulf of Maine cruising waters.

   The village is the scene of one of the wackiest and most popular Fourth of July parades anywhere and attracts hundreds of visitors from near and far especially after being written up in The New York Times, which described the parade as "quintessential American turned on its head, a cross among a charming Rockwell ian parade. Its claim to fame is that everyone- from tourists who invade this village of 550 each summer looking for lobster to the powers that be, regardless of party- gets made fun of."

   If this sounds like the home you've been looking for in the setting where you would be comfortable living, please give me a call today to set up a private viewing of this fine property.

Tracy Babcock
 

Maine Real Estate Blooms in the Spring

    It's Spring time in northern New England and contrary to popular opinion the most ubiquitous sign of the season is neither the robin red breast no the yellow daffodils but...the real estate sign.  Now is THE time of year for new Listings to appear on the market.  If you have been searching for just the right property and have not yet found it I hope you have a professional full time Broker working for you and keeping an eye on the market because when those special properties come on they tend to go fast.

   Here at Newcastle Square Realty we still hold to a practice that used to be common in this business but seems to have fallen out of favor with many real estate agencies. That is the weekly caravan of new properties. Maybe a lot of those agencies employ part time agents with other jobs on the side and they don't have the time to look at new properties unless they have a buyer in tow. Or maybe its just some new business model that we're not quite sophisticated enough to understand here on Main Street in Damariscotta. But we like going out and looking at new properties and it is not at all unusual for one of our Brokers to see a property on caravan day and realize that this might just be the one that meets their clients wants and needs.  Occasionally we've taken our Brokers through a property and had it "under contract" before close of business that day.

   Why not call your Broker today and ask them if they've seen any quality new properties lately that haven't yet made it into the newspapers or other advertisements. Or, if you're not already working with a full time real estate professional, call one of our Brokers. Because they see a lot of great homes, every week!

Tracy Babcock snapped this picture last week while we were out on caravan. Pictured left to right are, Debby Schling, Lee Simard, Ken Gray, Miles Geisler, Anne Peaslee, Bill Babcock, Becky Brown, Kathy Leeman, Tom Field, Jim Cosgrove and Bill Byrnes. Missing from the picture besides Tracy are Kathleen Shattuck, Anne Bourne and Eleanor Miles.

  

Bristol Homes for You

Did you know that a couple of years back, when a national survey was done to find out where baby-boomer's wanted to live, either in retirement or in the summer, Bristol, Maine was among the top 5 choices? I repeat, this was a nation wide survey. And it still appears to be the case.  Only now, you can have a beautiful, water oriented home in move in condition for a price unheard of 2 to 5 years ago. Two such homes come to mind immediately.

   Picture yourself in a 1996 built home overlooking Pemaquid Harbor, with access to the water without waterfront taxes. This charming, immaculate 3-bedroom home on 1.3 acres of fields alive with multi colored lupine in the spring, has a wonderful great room with cathedral ceiling, gourmet kitchen, central wood stove and Anderson windows bringing in sunlight and views of water and fields. A 3 season porch extends from the great room, overlooking the water and beautiful perennial gardens. Master suite and a second bedroom or den complete the first floor. The second floor is reached by an elegant open staircase leading to a spacious office/studio loft, and a bedroom with full bath. A two car garage under the house and a charming artist's studio in the field complete this picture. And the price? $429,000!

    The second home, near Moxie Cove, is another outstanding property.  this gorgeous, private, move in home overlooks Loud's Island in Muscongus Sound, and has a brand new deepwater dock with excellent potential for a safe harbor mooring for any size boat. There are 3 complete Master Suites, two on the first floor, the third on the second floor along with an office and a separate bedroom especially suited for visiting children. The Great Room includes a gourmet kitchen, a living area with fireplace and a dining area.  A delightful deck extends the full length of the house and has 3 sitting areas. The spacious walk out basement with a water view could be used for countless enterprises!  This deepwater property complete with dock is only $895,000!

   Statistics indicate that we have reached the price bottom in our particular market, so now is the time!  Visit our website or contact me for more details about these two fine homes.

Rebecca Brown

Signs of Spring on the Maine Coast

 

   It's interesting to observe how our thoughts and emotions are influenced by visible stimuli.  Take for example the onset of the spring season. In the mid Atlantic states many people are eager for the Cherry Blossoms to signal the official arrival of spring.  In San Juan Capistrano, California, the swallows miraculously return every March 19 to mark the arrival of spring.

   In mid coast Maine, some of us await the "arrival of the jack barge" (also known as the dock rig) as our sign that spring has arrived. We spotted our first rig yesterday, here at the town landing on the Damariscotta River.  To the average person it may not be an attractive site. However, for boat and dock owners it probably has the same effect that a Burpee's Seed catalog provides to a gardener.

   For those who have never seen a jack barge before, yesterdays low tide provided a "photo op". The rig has 3 jacks with pads that are lowered when the contractor is constructing docks or working on moorings.  Most rigs are fitted with a crane for maneuvering the heavy timber and dock material.

   If you had any doubts about the size of our tides, this photo shows you how much water is drained from Damariscotta Harbor at low tide!

Lee Simard

    

Vacation in Maine

News from Newcastle Square Vacation Rentals for February 2009

   We may still be digging out from our most recent snow storm, but vacation planning season is well underway in the Rental Office. This might possibly be the best way to chase away the winter blues - dreaming about a tranquil waterfront on Damariscotta Lake, remembering the call of the loons on Pemaquid Lake, or recalling the sounds of the surf at Pemaquid Point.

   If you're still dreaming about a vacation it's time to investigate the reality - Maine is an amazingly affordable vacation destination!  Our cottages are fully equipped, many offer great swimming waterfronts, some have kayaks or canoes (or guests can rent locally), and all locations are within an easy drive of the best that mid coast Maine has to offer.  Visit our website and click on the Rental News tab - listing 30 Things to do in 30 Miles!

 We're happy to announce that our rental offerings have expanded with the addition of 2 great properties from our affiliate, Newcastle Square Realty Associates.  Both cottages are currently on the market and the brokers at Newcastle Square would be happy to provide any purchase details.  Why come up and spend a week for a test drive?

     This cozy Damariscotta Lakefront cottage offers 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, screened porch, dock and float all in a terrific location.  It's only been on our website for a couple weeks but it is already generating quite a bit of interest.  See for yourself, on both the rental website, it's our Listing #106, or for those interested in purchasing, on the real estate web site.

   On the salt water side of our listings, we've just added another wonderful 2 bedroom, 1 bath cottage - not far from Pemaquid Point and the village of New Harbor.  Guests will enjoy the sandy/rocky tidal waterfront with wide open ocean views, and a large deck overlooking the lawn and the water.

View this property also on the rental website, Listing #117, or on the real estate site.

  So, stop dreaming and take advantage of two great opportunities to test out a summer home in Maine.  Call or email us to plan your vacation stay for this summer. And if these two choices don't meet your needs we have many more properties available.

  The snow will melt, the temperatures will warm up and you will want to be here.  Make that call today!

 

Anita Palsgrove is the Manager of Newcastle Square Vacation Rentals.

Saturday Solds

   Another post in a semi regular continuing series  presenting recently "sold" properties here in the mid coast region of Maine.  While it is true that the housing market is not what it once was, there are properties still selling and some Buyers are actually getting some pretty good deals.  Years from now, old timers will shake their heads at the prices of homes and say "...you know what I could have had that for back in '08?"

   This 4 bedroom Colonial is in a very nice subdivision with common area access to a deep water dock and float on the Damariscotta River.  Located on the Boothbay side of the river it also has beautiful views of the water and is in great condition.  Listed at $549,000 it sold for $490,000.

   This Ranch style home is also on the Damariscotta River but on the opposite shore giving it westerly sunset views.  Just 5 minutes from Damariscotta but very privately sited on almost 3 acres.  This home was originally listed at $895,000 and sold for $750,000.

   This brand new cottage came complete with it's own 3 acre island and sits in Damariscotta Lake!  With several beaches and docks and all of the privacy one could possibly want.  There is deeded parking and a boat launch on the mainland.  A generator supplies power.  Listed at $685,000 and sold for $620,000.

   This architect designed passive solar home sits at the end of Long Cove Point near the Pemaquid Point lighthouse and has spectacular views as well as a pleasing layout and many fine features.  Listed for $1,275,000. it sold at asking price within days of hitting the market.

   For more information about activity in the Damariscotta and Pemaquid area real estate market, please call one of our experienced and knowledgeable real estate brokers.

World's Largest Real Estate Sale

    Who says it's a bad real estate market?   The French press is reporting that a mysterious Russian billionaire has broken a world record for the most expensive real estate purchase ever. 

   The "Villa Leopolda" a Belle Apoque mansion on the Cote d'Azur has reportedly sold for $750 million.  Negotiations went on for months for this property, formerly owned by King Leopold II of Belgium and sold by the widow of a Lebanese banker.

   I'm not sure that it's a good thing to be the guy that just set a new worlds record for paying the most ever for a house.  I have to wonder if he had a Buyers Broker or if he tried to do this himself (probably why it took so long).  Obviously he didn't have a good CMA (comparative market analysis) since there can't be any comps.  I hope he got the chandeliers thrown in and didn't forget to ask for a septic inspection, the plumbing in those old homes is usually pretty bad. A good Buyers Broker may have saved him from holding this dubious distinction!

   I love the quote from a local real estate agent as reported in The Nice Martin newspaper; "at this price tag,...we are beyond reality".

Jim Cosgrove