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Copyright 2011 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Fall Foliage Report

The outlook for the 2010 fall foliage is shaping up to be a good one. The first report will be available on September 15. The forests are healthy and Mother Nature has graced us with a long, hot summer, with adequate moisture. Keep track of nature's spectacle with weekly updates from www.MaineFoliage.com You'll find a report for where to find the best color, along with photos submitted by

Maine Home Prices Up...Sales Down

In a press release today, The Maine Association of Realtors reports Maine home sales decreased 30.07% in July 2010 compared with July 2009. The decrease was anticipated, reflective of the end of the federal tax credit which had created an accelerated demand to go under contract by a specific date. National home sales figures show a 25.6% decrease in that same time period, and the Northeast a 30.03% decrease. However, Maine median home sales prices are still increasing. The median sales price rose 4.23% to $172,500 in July 2010, compared with July 2009. Median indicates half sold for more and half for less.

Obamas Weekend in Maine

USA Today - July 16, 2010


America may be divided over President Obama, but one thing must be agreed upon: He knows how to pick pretty vacation spots

How else to explain the First Family's visit this weekend to often-overlooked Acadia National Park, Maine's spectacular contribution to the nation's national park system? Its rocky shores and rising mountains might not be as dramatic as Yellowstone or Yosemite, but it's a photographer's dream.

The president, first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha will jet there around noon today for two nights away from Washington's heat -- and heated politics. As they prepared to leave, temperatures in the nation's humid capital were headed well into the 90s, with a heat index of 105.

The Oval hesitates to opine, but in the interest of a fun family vacation, we offer these suggestions:

•Drive the 20-mile Park Loop Road, stopping frequently for snapshots.
•Check out Sand Beach and its bracing waters.
•Pause frequently in search of whales.
•Climb at least part of Cadillac Mountain, the East's tallest.
•Dine on blueberry pancakes in the morning and fresh lobster in the evening.

That is, if the Obamas are lucky enough to have two uninterrupted days. That hasn't happened much on their family outings.

Maine Home Sales Up 62% in April

SOUTH PORTLAND (May 24, 2010) - Sales of Maine single-family existing homes rose 62.95 percentin April 2010 compared with April 2009.

According to the Maine Real Estate Information System, (MREIS), Realtors sold 994 homes in April 2010; and the statewide median sales price (MSP) forhomes sold increased 3.41 percent to $165,450 from April 2009. The median sales price indicates
that half of the homes were sold for more and half sold for less.

The end of the federal home buyer tax credit contributed to strong sales figures in April 2010.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports a 20.5 percent nationwide increase in singlefamilyhome sales in the same time period. The national MSP rose 4percent to $173,400 in April.In the regional Northeast, sales were up 41.6 percent and the MSP of $243,000 reflects an increase of2.1 percent.

A Very Special Downeast Coastal Contemporary Home

A lovely, contemporary home on a quiet, protected, deep water bay opening to the Atlantic Ocean -- perfect for mooring a boat for exploring the many islands, bays and villages of the Downeast coastline. The waterfront of this 2 acre parcel includes a small sand beach plus tide pools to explore. Nearby is a lobsterman's wharf where you can sometimes get fresh seafood for a Maine-style dinner, and a ferry to Bar Harbor for a nice days outing is just 20 minutes away. The home features a huge stone fireplace, an open floor plan with cathedral ceilings, hardwood floors, a sun room and 3 decks with ocean views Check the VIRTUAL TOUR of this outstanding property at http://www.realtourvision.com/tour/RE/rst.view.new.php?utl=RE-4029-BY79GO-02&opt=4

$695,000

Waterfront Properties of Maine
Website: www.WaterfrontPropertiesOfMaine.com

Maine Home Sales Up 46% in March

Statewide Median Sales Price increases nearly 10%

SOUTH PORTLAND (April 22, 2010)— Maine is showing positive growth in both unit sales and the median sales price of single-family existing homes during the month of March 2010. According to the Maine Real Estate Information System, Inc. (MREIS), 815 homes sold last month—a gain of 46.06 percent compared to March 2009. The median sales price reached $164,900, up 9.93 percent from March 2009’s price of $150,000. The median sales price indicates that half of the homes were sold for more and half sold for less.

Nationally, single-family existing homes sales rose 13.3 percent. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports the national median sales price increased 0.6 percent to $170,700 in March 2010. Regionally, sales in the Northeast were up 25.4 percent and the regional median sales price increased 8.9 percent to $249,800 in March 2010

Alan Peoples of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Portland relays, “The economic numbers for March and the rolling quarter are strongly positive and April is likely to be more of the same. These numbers reflect momentum from the first time and repeat buyer tax credit programs, which end at the end of April.” The increase in the median home sales price shows increased sales of higher priced homes in Maine from the same time period in 2009.

For more information on Maine waterfront real estate, go to www.WaterfrontPropertiesOfMaine.com.