Archive for category Real Estate

Want to Buy a….. Lighthouse?! Ram Island Ledge Light Auction

Jul 24

Posted by Jeff Mateja in Events, Green / Environmental, History, Oceanfront, Real Estate, Scenic | No Comments

Courtesy of United States Coast Guard and GSA.gov

Wish to own a piece of history and have a spare $10,000 sitting around? Well, according to the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), and an active online lighthouse auction, Ram Island Ledge Light in Casco Bay off Cape Elizabeth is available for sale to the general public.

One bidder has already made the auction’s minimum bid of $10,000, which began on June 30, 2010, with an advance deposit of $10,000 required, and a bid increment of $5,000, according to the Property Information for Bids document. The document details the terms and conditions of the bidding, and the eventual sale of the property, which are quite interesting regarding the responsibilities of the eventual buyer and the reservations of the new owner to the United States Government, The Department of Homeland Security and United States Coast Guard.

A unique experience and opportunity for sure…

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Habitat for Humanity Build this Thursday – Keller Williams Realty RED Day

May 12

Posted by Jeff Mateja in Events, Fun, Green / Environmental, Real Estate | No Comments

2nd Annual “RED Day” Set to Lend a Hand as part of community service initiative of Keller Williams Realty in the US and Canada.

Westbrook, Maine – May 10, 2010 – Keller Williams Realty associates may be taking the day off on Thursday, May 13, 2010, but it will hardly be a day of rest. Over 25,000 associates across the United States and Canada will spend their day off by giving back as part of the company’s community service initiative, RED Day.

Short for “Renew, Energize and Donate,” RED Day was created to unite Keller Williams Realty offices and associates in an international day of service. During RED Day 2009, over 25,000 Keller Williams associates participated in activities ranging from food and blood drives to cleaning up trash in public parks, doing yard work for neighbors in need or revamping gardens at nursing homes. Last year on RED Day, the company donated over 130,000 hours.

As part of the RED Day effort, Keller Williams Realty Greater Portland has chosen to spend the day with Habitat for Humanity at their new construction site off Lincoln Street of 3 homes this Thursday May 13 from 9:00am – 3:00pm. Over 100 local Keller Williams Associates will spend the day finishing up the exterior of these three homes, collecting nonperishable food items and summer adult clothing for the Preble Street Resource Center. On site will also be a collection truck for the Habitat REStore. These strongly community minded associates have also raised over $2000 for Habitat for Humanity. They welcome the public to drop off any adult clothing, REStore items or nonperishable food items at the Lincoln Street Town skating rink parking lot May 13, 9:00am- 3:00pm.

“We are ready to paint Westbrook red! We are excited to be a part of RED Day and continue the important company tradition of giving,” said Team Leader, Leanne Nichols “Last year, we surveyed thousands of local people regarding their preferences for local Seafood to help our working waterfront. We can’t tell you what an impact it made on each of us personally-it felt so great to give back to the community we know and love.”

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Maine Home, Remodeling and Garden Show – Portland, Feb 6-7

Feb 6

Posted by Jeff Mateja in Entertainment, Events, Food, Fun, Green / Environmental, Real Estate | No Comments

Sure it’s chilly today, but we’re all thinking ahead to the spring and summer, and what a great way to get ready for the warmer weather by visiting The Maine Home, Remodeling, and Garden Show at the Cumberland County Civic Center today and tomorrow. The show will be open Saturday, February 6, from 10am – 6pm, and again Sunday, February 7, from 10am – 5pm, just in time to get back to watch the Super Bowl.

Like past home shows at the Civic Center, there will be over 170 exhibitors of home-related products & services for you to preview. You’ll witness some home remodeling ideas and be able to talk to the experts in the field about questions or concerns you have with your own projects, or be able to “interview” them for the job of taking on your next remodel. There will also be informative seminars related to home and garden pieces, as well as cooking demonstrations from the “Meet the Chefs” cooking series.

For more information on the show and exhibitors, please visit HomeGardenFlowerShow.com.

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Two Remodeled Portland Rentals Available

Dec 17

Posted by Jeff Mateja in Real Estate | No Comments

A follower of ILovePortlandMaine.com submitted the following two rental units that are available immediately and asked that I share them with our readers.

Should you have interest, please contact the landlord directly at the contact information at the bottom of the page and let them know you saw it here!

Unit #1

KitchenUnit1Newly updated 2 floor, 2 bedroom apartment for rent near USM. Features include:

Heat & Hot water included, Hardwood floors, carpeted bedrooms, Washer/Dryer hook up in private basement, Private entrance, Large yard, Mantel and built-in cabinet in living room, Brand new stainless steel appliances including dishwasher, Off street parking, Non-Smoking property. Looking for quiet, non-smoking, responsible tenants. Available immediately. Property is on St. John Street in Portland closest to Brighton Ave and near USM. 1 yr lease and $1050 security deposit. Call Bill at 450-5740

Unit #2

KitchenUnit2Newly updated 2 floor, 2-3 bedroom apartment for rent near USM. Features include:

Heat & hot water included, Brand new never used stainless steel appliances including dishwasher and microwave, Hardwood floors, carpeted bedrooms, New cabinets, 1 1/2 baths. Half bath on second floor with laundry (will include stackable washer dryer if needed), Off street parking, Private entrance, Large yard, Non-Smoking property. Looking for quiet, non-smoking, responsible tenants. Available immediately. Property is on St. John Street in Portland closest to Brighton Ave and near USM. 1 yr lease and $1200 security deposit. Call Bill at 450-5740

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53 Danforth – Portland's New Green Apartment Building

Aug 15

Posted by iloveportlandmaine in Green / Environmental, Real Estate | No Comments

danforth2Portland, Maine, just got a bit “greener” this week with the unveiling of 53 Danforth, a new 43-unit apartment complex not only friendly to the environment, but to the people of the City of Portland. The vision of co-developers Nathan Szanton and Bobby Monks is now a reality and a great sight as you walk up Danforth Street towards High Street.

The building, built by Wright-Ryan Construction, and designed by Archetype Architects, P.A., (both of Portland), features 21 solar panels, motion sensing lights, low-flow shower heads, low VOC paint, on-site recycling, and a digital carbon counter noting the amount of carbon the building avoids sending into the atmosphere, among other energy saving pieces. Tenants who do not own a vehicle will also receive a rent reduction perk of $40.00 per month.

What is more impressive about the wonderful 53 Danforth project is the citizens of Portland that will be helped. The buildings 43 units will include 35 one-bedroom apartments and 8 two-bedroom units.  Further, 30 of the units will be set aside as affordable housing units for households defined as earning less than 60% of the area median income. Additional features include views of Portland Harbor and Downtown, on-site parking, laundry facilities, bicycle storage, an elevator, and wireless internet.

Dirigo Management of Portland is handling the leasing of the rental units which opens Saturday, August 15. For more information on renting, please visit; 53 Danforth Rentals – Dirigo Mgmt

The project was financed by Maine Housing Authority, TD Banknorth, and the City of Portland, and involved contributions from the Portland Museum of Art.

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Time for a Good Laugh…

Jul 26

Posted by iloveportlandmaine in Art, Entertainment, Fun, Green / Environmental, Real Estate | No Comments

As the Northeast continues to dodge rain drops, I figured it would be a great time to boost our spirits with a recent sighting made during the preview of a home with clients. Sure, I have always been told I have a wonderful imagination, and thought I had seen everything, but there always seems to be something that catches you by surprise….

While it is doubtful the folks at HGTV would find the material interesting, I am sure the creator of The Strange Maine Blog would appreciate the “creativity” of a local handyman in the bathroom pictured below…

ShowerVinylSiding

Clearly the usage of vinyl siding in the shower adds character to the bathroom and prevents water from penetrating the walls. I will forever be curious to know…..

  • Was the vinyl siding hung as a joke?
  • Was it just a cheap alternative to tile or tile board?
  • Do you have to power wash the vinyl from time to time to prevent soap scum and mildew from forming?
  • Would you feel like you were showering outside here?
  • Could Bath Fitters go over this job with their bath replacements?
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Portland Regency Hotel and Spa – History and In The News

Jun 30

Posted by iloveportlandmaine in Fun, History, Real Estate | 3 Comments

RegencyHotelThis just in…The Portland Regency Hotel and Spa, a member of the Historic Hotels of America, will soon be featured on The Travel Channel, as they highlight the Top Six Summer Weekend Getaways in Maine. The production company will be in Portland, Maine, on Thursday, July 2nd, for filming and will run the series from July 17th through September 17th on The Travel Channel.

Great exposure for a fine hotel, however, there is a lot more to this great destination located at Twenty Milk Street, Portland, in the heart of the Old Port.

Built in 1895, the building has served many different purposes including The State of Maine Armory, a civic auditorium for concerts, home for soldiers, sailors, and marines, a public bath house, and a surplus warehouse.

Once considered one of the best armories in New England, the building over the years would play second fiddle to other newly built armories after the war, and was “de-commission” and left abandoned by the National Guard in the 1950′s. Shortly thereafter when the City of Portland took back the property, there was support to destroy the property and create a parking garage, as the property was so close to Portland’s working waterfront.

Thankfully there were many who opposed the project, like veterans who trained in the building, and The State of Maine eventually sold the property, which would serve as a warehouse owned by the State Paper Company in the mid-1980′s. In 1987, the Portland Regency Hotel opened its doors with 95 rooms, the same number today. According to public records, the property at 20 Milk St, Portland, was purchased for $100,000 on February 1, 1989, and currently is assessed for tax purposes by the City of Portland at $7.09 million.

While the hotel has been updated, the charm of the original armory is restored throughout most of the interior and exterior. For those from Portland who may not necessarily have the chance to stay overnight at the hotel, certainly drop in for a happy hour at The Armory Lounge, the hotel bar featuring lovely woodwork, a mahogany bar, and a wonderful atmosphere. Next time you’re near The Portland Regency, stop in for a drink and admire the surroundings.

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Wadsworth-Longfellow House

Jun 20

Posted by iloveportlandmaine in Fun, History, Real Estate, Uncategorized | No Comments

Located in the heart of Portland’s Downtown, at 485 Congress Street, The Wadsworth-Longfellow house built in 1785-86, was the first wholly brick home in Portland. Born in 1807 in Portland, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow grew up in the home before becoming one of the greatest national literary figures.

Wadsworth Longfellow’s younger sister Anne would maintain the home and freshen it up upon her parents deaths in the late 1840′s while preserving the character and charm of the times. She continued to live in the house until 1901, at which point the home was passed to the Maine Historical Society, who opened the home, a National Historic Landmark, as Maine’s first home museum. During 2001-2002, the three-story home (a third story was added in 1815) was carefully restored through a great effort to research the original period details to ensure the homes elegance was preserved the way the family would have wanted to see their home which they referred to as the  “Old Original”

When you have a chance, take a walk back in time with a visit to the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow House.

The property serves as the site of the Maine Historical Society Museum, the Wadsworth Longfellow House, the Longfellow Garden, and a Research Library.

Guided Tours are available May through October, and again in December for holiday tours. School tours are available starting April 1 by reservation only.
Hours of Operation: Monday–Saturday, 10:30am–4pm; Tours on the hour, First tour at 10:30am, Last tour at 4:00pm
Sunday, 12pm–4pm; Tours on the hour

Admission

Members: Free, Adults: $8, Seniors & Students: $7, Children: $3
Price includes admission to Maine Historical Society Museum.

For more information on the Wadsworth Longfellow House, please visit: Wadsworth Longfellow House Overview

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