Liz's Sanford Maine Real Estate Blog

38 Idlewood Ln, Kittery ME

Liz Foley (Town Square Realty Group) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:20:35 -0700

Just because it says this is a mobile home doesn't mean it's JUST A MOBILE HOME!

This home has been lovingly cared for over the years, and there is very little left that screams "mobile"...

Located in a desirable park just minutes from the turnpike and the New Hampshire border, this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home is ready for occupancy. No work is needed. There's a brand new roof, all walls all sheetrocked and freshly painted, the kitchen and appliances are new, the furnace is only 5 years old, and there's new skirting all around.

The living room is cozy and comfortable, and nothing is needed to be done before moving in.

The kitchen has been updated and is bright and fresh. All appliances stay.

The addition is currently being used as a bedroom, but can be utilized however you see fit - but if friends want to come to Maine to visit in the summer, here's the perfect spot for them!

The "spare" bedroom is ready for guests as well, or use it as an office.

The master bedroom has its own bathroom, and is spacious and pristine.

Don't be fooled - this is a large, roomy house, ready to be your year-round or vacation home! The park is very well maintained, and even allows small pets, which is unusual for parks. Kittery is home to many popular outlets stores, seafood restaurants, and close to beaches and be skiing within the hour.

MLS #1008711

Asking 69,900

Call Liz Foley at Town Square Realty Group, 207-651-6198 or email her at liz@townsquarerg.com

Waterfront Home at 208 Wadleigh Pond Rd, Lyman ME

Liz Foley (Town Square Realty Group) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:43:36 -0700

ENJOY SPECATULAR SUNSETS

with this year-round waterfront home located at 208 Wadleigh Pond Rd. in Lyman, Maine...

I've heard it so many times: I want a place on the water. I want to enjoy a lake, go fishing to catch tonight's dinner, have an outside fire and listen to the loons on the lake.

Well, it's time. Prices are good, rates are good, you have choices. Come see this home and see what you can be waking up to this summer!

This home has been renovated and is ready for new owners to share the views with. 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, both levels are finished off to give you about 1400 square feet of living space. Don't be fooled, it is bigger than it looks!

The views really are amazing. This is the view fom the kitchen window. Even washing dishes will be a delightful experience!

Some views are priceless...here are just a couple.

MLS #1008129

Asking $245,000

Contact Liz Foley at Town Square Realty Goup, 207-651-6198 (cell) or 207-324-2860 (office)

liz@townsquarerg.com

14 Thyngs Corner Rd, Limerick ME 04048

Liz Foley (Town Square Realty Group) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:48:59 -0700

SEEKING A COUNTRY HOME?

Seek no longer...this roomy 3 bedroom located at 14 Thyngs Corner Rd in Limerick, Maine is just the ticket!

Sporting a brand new roof, situated on a lovely country 4 acre lot, the house is ready for someone to call it home.

Family and friends will enjoy BBQ'ing off the back deck while throwing horseshoes and playing badmitton...

while you can enjoy peace, quiet, and solitude curled up in front of a warm winter fire in the fireplace.

The kitchen is perfect for the cook who needs lots of counters and cabinets.

The market is finally changing along with the season, it truly is time to buy a new home. Why not find a home in the country and live the way life should be in Maine?

For more information and for a showing, please call Liz Foley at 207-324-2860 or on her cell at 207-651-6198.

MLS #960527

Asking $185,000

liz@townsquarerg.com

New Construction Package, Lot 161 Foxridge Court, No Waterboro, ME 04061

Liz Foley (Town Square Realty Group) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:40:09 -0700

THE TIME TO BUILD IS NOW!

What a great time to build a new home -building package featured is from local premiere builders here in Southern Maine, PATCO Construction, for $159,900.

The "Raleigh" is the model selected for this particular building package, though other plans are available.

The idea behind the floor plan of the "Raleigh" is a flowing, open-concept home that speaks to the "woman-centric" market. Studies have been conducted that show that certain things about these plans appeal to the woman buyer in terms of efficiency and usage. For more information on this plan, as well as others available, visit www.patco.com

The living room is spacious, with large, energy efficient windows, open concept, and has flexible space with which to work...

This particular plan can be a 3 bedroom or a 2 bedroom with a "flex" room that will allow for your specific needs in a home. A full basement, great working kitchen with a large pantry, and a "drop-zone" are all parts of the plan to make life easy and flexible.

This lot is located at Lot 161 Foxridge Court, just .3 mile from the paved main road in Lake Arrowhead. The lot is a double lot, almost an acre of land, and is on a private cul-de-sac. Nice high, dry lot - enjoy all the Lake Arrowhead ammenities. Be in your new home in time to enjoy recreation on the lake this summer! For more information on Lake Arrowhead, visit www.lacinc.org

Call Liz Foley at Town Square Realty Group, 207-324-2860 or on her cell at 207-651-6198, or email her at: liz@townsquarerg.com

Lot 161 FoxRidge Court, North Waterboro ME 04061

Liz Foley (Town Square Realty Group) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:40:39 -0700

Land Available in Lake Arrowhead

Asking $21,900

Land is inexpensive in Lake Arrowhead right now, making it a great time to plan for the future! Lake Arrowhead offers a great opportunity to build a home in a rural community, with ammenities such as a Clubhouse, indoor pools, playgrounds, and a great lake to boat, swim, and play in. Go to www.lacinc.org for more information about the Lake Arrowhead community in North Waterboro, Maine.

This particular lot is comprised of 2 lots, making it one of the larger lots in the area. It's a nice, high, dry lot on a small cul-de-sac, less than 3/10ths of a mile from the main paved road. Power is avaialble right there, so easy access to electric. Lake Arrowhead provides the water, and this will need a private septic. A septic design was provided about 5 years ago, and would need updating, but shows the lot to be a viable building lot.

Call Liz Foley at Town Square Realty Group, 207-324-2860 for more information, or email at liz@townsquarerg.com

810 Maplewood Rd, West Newfield ME 04095

Liz Foley (Town Square Realty Group) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:35:49 -0800

SOLD!

IT'S YOUR CHANCE...

to get into a beautiful home at less than 150,000!

810 Maplewood Rd. is located in West Newfield, minutes from the New Hampshire border. This home offers 780 square feet of living space on the first floor, which consists of the living room, dining room, kitchen, a full bath, and 2 bedrooms. More space is upstairs, ready to be finished to double your living space.

Stone walls, picket fences, and distant mountain views creat an idyllic setting for this home.

All is in extremely good condition, and the home shows almost as good as new.

The upstairs is plumbed, insulated, and fully dormered - ready for finishing off.

The basement is clean and dry, and offers substantial space for a workshop, storage, or, if you REALLY need it - more rooms. But with all there is upstairs, who needs it?

New Hampshire mountains in the distance....

Newfield is a small, rural community with a country appeal. Get away from it all, but be within 20 minutes to civilization when that desire strikes you. Enjoy activities such as fishing, boating, 4-wheeling, gardening, swimming in one of the nearby lakes, cross-country skiing, even ride horses locally - the roads are quiet enough to traverse.

Asking 149,900. Call Liz Foley, Town Square Realty Group, 207-324-2860 for more details!

25 Pierce Ave, Sanford ME 04073

Liz Foley (Town Square Realty Group) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:23:31 -0800

SOLD!

PRICE REDUCTION!

NOW ASKING $152,000

25 Pierce Ave is located in South Sanford, minutes from the new Lowes and Super Walmart, a growing area. A mile from both the Wells and the Kennebunk lines, the home is within 10 minutes of the turnpike to get to Portland or Portsmouth within 35 minutes.

This home offers 3 bedrooms and 1 bath and 940 square feet of living space above grade, and and additional 400 or so square feet finished downstairs. The upstairs kitchen floor is tiled, and appliances are new within the last few years.

The rooms upstairs are all in great shape, with flooring, tile, paint, almost all windows - all done within the last 2-5 years.

The basement is fully finished, with tile, ceilings, paneled doors, and full size windows for the daylight to flow in!

Additional upgrades include a fenced in yard with a dog pen, a deck, and a new roof within the last couple of years. Time has been spent landscaping to make for a gorgeous yard.

Asking $166,500 - call Liz Foley at Town Square Realty Group, 207-324-2860 for an appointment to see this home. Military transfer necessitates the need to sell. The benefit process may take some time, but is still less time-consuming than a short sale.

Lot 2, Foss Rd, Limerick, ME

Liz Foley (Town Square Realty Group) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:24:08 -0700

SOLD!

REDUCED! NOW ONLY $30,000!

Trees, streams, stone walls, and fields. This picturesque area in Limerick, Maine has it all. The perfect setting for your dream home, or a weekend get-away to relax in. 2 acres are available, and building envelope can be determined by the buyer for the right price. The current owner owns around 75 acres, and this will be portioned off of that. This is NOT a back lot - frontage is on a paved, town-maintained road, and power is readily available, making this a very cost-effective spot to build.

Limerick is a small rural community of about 2200 people, located near several lakes and mountains. Ideally located within an hour of beaches, ski areas, North Conway, Fryeburg, and the White Mountains, you would never lack for things to do - including finding a local lake to cool off in during the hot summer days, hiking along viewing the vibrant foliage in the fall, hunting, fishing, skiiing, snowmobiling, ice skating, and ice fishing. In some areas, the views are stupendous, with long range views of Mount Washington possible. And I can't tell you how many times I've had to stop to let the wild turkeys or a moose pass!

Asking $38,000, or pull together a building package. Come enjoy a place in Maine!

Call Liz Foley, Town Square Realty Group at 207-324-2860

22 Leo St, Sanford ME 04073

Liz Foley (Town Square Realty Group) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:01:35 -0700

SOLD!

PRICE REDUCED - NOW ASKING $19,999.00

22 Leo St, Sanford Maine

Renovated with love, this mobile offers 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, a lovely lot, shed, and a sunroom. Recent renovations include vinyl siding, pitched metal roof, flooring, paint, some fixtures, electrical, most of the heating unit, and skirting. Great location, nice quiet park on the outskirts of town. Be in Portland or Portsmouth in about 45 minutes, the beach in 20, the lakes in 20, and the mountains within an hour.

Contact Liz Foley, Town Square Realty Group

207-324-2860

liz@townsquarerg.com

34 Chickadee Dr, Alfred ME04002

Liz Foley (Town Square Realty Group) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:29:27 -0700

Sold!

TIME TO RETIRE? DO IT IN STYLE IN THIS SPACIOUS DOUBLEWIDE IN KEYWOOD MANOR!

Spacious, immaculate doublewide offers 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, a dining room, a living room, AND a family room, kitchen with abundant cabinetry, an attached garage, and a deck to pass the days on.

Your life will fit easily into the 1600 feet + of living space. Your important family gatherings will run smoothly with plenty of room to spread out.

Keywood Manor is ideally located within a country location in Lyman and Alfred, Maine. Even so, you can be on the turnpike in less than 15 minutes for shopping, in Sanford in minutes for all town conveniences, to area beaches within 15 minutes, area lakes within a half an hour, and to the nearest skiing within 45 minutes. Planning a trip to Boston? Be there in just over an hour and watch your favorite sports!

Offered by Solveiga Purens, of Town Square Realty Group, the asking price is $119,400. Park acceptance is required, pets are allowed. Call 207-324-2860 and ask for Solveiga for details.

Entered on Active Rain by Liz Foley with permission by Ms. Purens and homeowner.

0 Asbury Lane, Acton ME 04001

Liz Foley (Town Square Realty Group) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:19:26 -0700

5.16 acres in "The Ridge" in Acton Maine

Price reduced - now asking $52,900

"The Ridge" is located in rural Acton, and only minutes from the New Hampshire border. With beach rights to Balch Lake, this lot is a short bike away from anything lake-related. Homes are beautiful in here, including several cedar log homes overlooking the lake.

This lot has a large amount of road frontage on a paved, maintained road, and power is easily accessible at street, saving you money in hooking up to Central Maine Power.

Swim, fish, play and build. "The Ridge" provides the perfect opportunity to build your year-round or get-a-way home. This wooded 5.16 acre lot is located in an area of quality homes, with protective covenents. Deeded beach rights on 700 acre Balch Lake. Asking 52,900.

Building packages have been priced out if you don't already have a builder - be in a large ranch on 5.16 acres for around $200,000!

The Right of Way is about half a mile away, an easy walk to get to...

Call Liz Foley at Town Square Realty Group, 207-324-2860 or 207-651-6198

liz@townsquarerg.com

Maine Increasing Real Estate Transfer Taxes.....A Lot!

Liz Foley (Town Square Realty Group) — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 00:12:39 -0700

Currently, the state of Maine requires an equal division of the real estate transfer tax at closing to the tune of $4.40 per thousand, shared equally between buyers and sellers. It's not a horrific number, pretty average from what I can tell by looking at some other states. Boiled down, if you are either buying or selling a home that is priced at $200,000.00, then at the closing table, you will pay to the state of Maine about $440.00.

Maine is a great place to live, and I can't complain about much. But....I do have a problem with what our esteemed representatives have decided to do. It has been decided that all buyers and sellers will now cough up even more at the closing table to the state to alleviate our tax burdens overall. The increase is 300%! Here is a link provided by the Maine Association of Realtors that explains how this is happening: http://www.maineshakedown.com/ . The breakdown is as follows for primary homes:

If you are selling or buying a home for $200,000 or less, the transfer tax will now be $6 per thousand.

If you are selling or buying a home for between $200,000 and $400,000, the transfer tax will now be $8 per thousand.

If you are selling or buying a home for between $400,000 and $1,000,000, the transfer tax will now be $10 per thousand.

If you are selling or buying a home for more than $1,00,000, the transfer tax will now be $15 per thousand.

For second homes, land, and commercial real estate, the transfer tax will now be $10 per thousand.

It is important for us to contact our legislators and tell them how we feel about this. It doesn't sound like much, but when buying a home is such an expensive endeavour, it just doesn't seem that we need to make it even more expensive. Here is a link for you to find out who to contact - please do so! We work hard for our money. http://janus.state.me.us/house/townlist.htm

Also, for the other real estate professionals out there, I would love to know how your state handles the transfer tax at the closing table.

"Active Rain" takes on a new meaning in stormy York County, Maine

Liz Foley (Town Square Realty Group) — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 23:15:57 -0700

Last week was a historic week in Maine and New Hampshire, with a rainfall to that has had no comparison in recent history. Driving around during the last week since the storm, I still see trees toppled over, huge pines cracked right down the middle, edges of the road are washed away, and hoses are still pouring water out of people's basement windows. I attended a funeral of someone who, it is believed, died in his sleep from the fumes of the generator he had hooked up while without power. A young girl and her grandmother were swept away as water washed out a road-way.

All in all, it has been a really lousy April in Southern Maine. How do we protect ourselves and our homes and property when these catastrophic events hit us so hard? I have written many a purchase and sales contract for a home, and never once have advised that someone look into flood insurance if they are nowhere near water. After this week, I might just start recommending it. I have written several purchase and sales contracts for people in homes where the generator will be staying behind for the buyers as a favor. I might be recommending a safety course in the operation of those generators now.

Our job in selling homes is to do everything we can for our buyers and sellers to get them into the home they are dreaming of, or out of one into another. But it takes a month like April 2007 to bring home the reality of our jobs, that there is much more to owning a home and being responsible with that home ownership. That being said, I was lucky. I received no damage whatsoever in or around my home. But had I had damage - I can honestly say I have no safeguards in place. I am not near water, so I must not need flood insurance, right? Well, the people across the street from me were bailing out for 2 days. There by for the grace.....And I am on public water and sewer, which is great, right? Well, for me maybe, but not for the people 6 doors down from me. There is still a BFI trash bin in their yard, as they had to throw away most of their possessions when the sewer in their home backed up.

Many of my neighbors and acquaintances were hit hard. I do count my blessings, but I know I may not be so lucky if this happens again. My thoughts go out to all of those that are dealing still with the results of our Patriot's Day Storm. Watch this video from a town resident, Major Gordon Littlefiled: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiJozOX0v4g to see just how the area fared.

This is what the Easter Bunny looks like in Maine....

Liz Foley (Town Square Realty Group) — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 20:57:34 -0700

Yes, folks, Maine does do things a little differently! Years ago, when I told my son that Easter was the day when a furry critter would deliver Easter Eggs, I really didn't have a squirrel in mind! Yes, I know this has nothing whatsoever to do with real estate, but these pictures my husband took of the Easter Egg bandit in our (snowy) back yard were just to priceless not to share! The real fun part was - he made off with a couple before we noticed!

"Hey, Hey Chip....do ya see what I got? Man, this must be major - these things are scattered all over this yard......Ummm....now what do I do with it?"

MINE!

Kermit had it right - it ISN'T easy being green!

Liz Foley (Town Square Realty Group) — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 11:01:52 -0700

Kermit sure had it right - it DEFINITELY is not easy being "green", especially in a career that requires marketing (translation: lots and lots of paper), driving (translation: showings, fuel consumption), electronic tools (translation: computers, cell phones, PDA's). So as an admittedly un-green realtor, what can I do, both personally and professionally, to color me green? I posted this article a couple of years ago, and in reading through, it realize not much has changed! In honor of "Earth Day", I am recycling this blog!

I'll be honest - I am not "green". Heck, I'm not even in the color spectrum of green, or olive, or pea soup. But I admit it - it is time. So this is a great chance to do a little research and see what simple steps I can take, without turning everyday life upside down.

Step 1: take a look around the house. See all the mail piled up on the table? Get off the mailing list of every credit card company out there! I don't know about you, but the amount of paper that enters my house on a daily basis is substantial. Here is a link you can visit to get off the mailing lists: https://www.dmachoice.org/dma/member/regist.action

Take a minute to read through the page - there is a lot of useful information there that you can implement. And don't forget folks - we are guilty of contributing to that mass of paper. I know I am....so a take a careful look and review your mailing list. I can't tell y ou how many other agents send me Just Listed flyers - or a free CMA coupon. Newsflash: I can do my own market analysis, thank you anyway!

Step 2: think about composting. I used to get annoyed when my husband would set up a little bucket on the kitchen counter and start tossing things in. He had the right idea - but the bad thing was, he just didn't research it. He figured a few days, take it out to the bin he built outside - well, think about it - ugh, it would start to smell! Obviously, it comes down to not being lazy. A smaller container, one that is taken to a bin daily would make more sense. Composting is an important step - but for reasons different than I originally thought. Here's what I found out at this link: http://www.resourceconservation.mb.ca/cap/why.html . It states that over 35% of household waste is compostable! That number is extraordinary! I always thought one should compost to enrich the soil for a garden, and that was the main redeeming value of it. The truth of the matter is, one of the biggest benefits is that composting saves in the cost of transporting of our waste materials to the dump!

Step 3: How many cell phones have you gone through in the last few years? Think about it - I know I have at least 3 buried in a drawer, and am not sure what to do with them. Here's a statistic that the EPA came up with in 2005: over 700 million cell phones went out of use that year, which adds up to about well over 65 tons of garbage alone. And that was then - I didn't find a more current stat, but am sure it is well over that number. (visit this link for more information: http://www.eco-cell.org/cellwaste.asp#scope ) So what to do? A quick visit to Google provides various methods to put those cell phones to good use. One example is at http://www.charitablerecycling.com/CR/home.asp . I guess that is one step I can do immediately!

4: Plan well for showings. Thank goodness for Google Maps, Mapquest, and our navigation systems! A logistical, well-planned route is key - not just for your sanity, but if you are one of the many real estate agents driving an SUV, gas mileage as a tax-write off needs to take a back-seat to being green. I traded mine in for a Matrix, and wish I had taken it one step further for a Prius! But 33 miles to the gallon - I can at least feel good about that.

There are so many other things we can do, and we need to do. Stewardship of this planet we call home is in our hands. I, for one, have been lazy, and that is no excuse. So - a few bins in my garage taking up space- so what? A few phone calls to the right companies, and my paper waste will diminish as well as my electronic waste. Just a few steps along the path to "green", but important steps that will add up if most of us do the same. Good luck, and maybe we can get Kermit to change his tune and sing that it's EASY to be green.

Liz Foley, Town Square Realty Group, 207-324-2860, Sanford ME

Whose Yardstick Measures YOUR Success?

Liz Foley (Town Square Realty Group) — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 23:00:51 -0700

WHOSE YARDSTICK MEASURES YOUR SUCCESS?

Does your company give awards for a job well done? Do you crave the accolades that the company offers sometime in March for achieving a certain level of production? Most of us, whether we admit it or not, derive a certain sense of pleasure when we get our "cookies". And if you don't, that's all well and good, but honestly, I appreciate a tangible recognition of a job well done. We are mostly competitive by nature, and it never hurts to see how we stack up against everyone else.

This got me thinking. This past year, I sold half the amount of homes in 2006 than I did the years prior. Bottom line? No kudos, no piece of paper to frame for the wall, no little statue, or pin, and worst, half the amount of income I expected. A bit of a blow to the ego to be sure, but it makes me rethink what makes one successful.

At first, I thought: well, folks, the fat lady's singing now. Truly pessimistic of me, I'm sure you will agree. It was a rough year for many - not all, but many - real estate agents. I, unlike many agents, can ride through the downtimes as I have a spouse earning a regular income with good benefits. Without that, I, like many this past year, might have had to go punch a clock somewhere. (I did take about 2 months off - that didn't help!)

Even in this market, there are new agents. They will look at the achievers in their offices and their communities, and feel daunted by the level of success those super-agents have attained.

But here's the scoop folks: if you had only ONE DEAL, ONE transaction, and you did it well, maintaining highly ethical standards and behavior, you have attained a level of success that makes you a winner. Building your reputation, one client at a time, is how you will gain success. Those clients will return in the coming years, and those clients will send others your way in the meantime.

Good luck to everyone this year, no matter what field you are in, and however you measure your own success, may that success come your way.

40 Shady Lane, Alfred Maine 04002

Liz Foley (Town Square Realty Group) — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 22:57:12 -0800

Year round, beautifully maintained home on Estes Lake in the charming town of Alfred, Maine! Currently, this home is used as a 2 bedroom home, but the builder (the current owner) planned ahead by having the home built with a septic design that would allow for a 4 bedroom home. The flexible floor plan allows you to modify this home as you need!

Home features:

2 bedrooms
1 bath
.68 acres
100 feet of waterfront
your own dock
FHA heat
gorgeous cabinetry
fully finished walk-out basement
Offered for $285,000
Visit the visual tour at: http://www.visualtour.com/shownp.asp?SK=13&T=688355
MLS #808588

OFFERED BY: LIZ FOLEY, ERA MASIELLO GROUP, SANFORD, ME 04073. CALL 207-490-2900 X40 FOR MORE DETAILS.

40 Shady Lane, Alfred ME 04002 - Year-round waterfront!

Liz Foley (Town Square Realty Group) — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 20:30:27 -0800

40 Shady Lane, Alfred Me 04002 - my first attempt at this - how does it look? Thanks - liz

Liz Foley (Town Square Realty Group) — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 20:25:54 -0800