Tag: mooers realty

The Call Today From A Star Little League Pitcher.

Lessons Learned On The Maine Little League Field.

Back in 1983 the big plan was to have a ball team.

I dreamed, wanted to sponsor a Houlton Maine little league team. But the slots were taken, had all the sponsors they needed. Until Shop and Save’s management adopted a policy that the players needed to raise the membership fee to sponsor a team individually. So they gave up their team. I lucked out as a proud new sponsor. What a little league team to inherit, to have fall in my lap too.

Many kids that play little league baseball are struggling with enough money to just buy a glove.

Lacking the support behind them to get to the ball diamond for games and practices. And in a small town like Houlton Maine in Aroostook County, the entire village pitches in to help each boy or girl have the experience of being on a team. The structure and discipline of what it takes to work as a team. To earn a victory, suffer through a lean building season. How to win and lose as a team. Which happens a lot in life right? Losses are lessons. Victory is sweeter when it is not a given.

Hustle, Trot, Run. Even When It’s A Walk, 4 Balls That Gets You On First Base In Little League.

To learn the skills to win little league games and improve the goal.

To lose gracefully but maybe make the playoffs. Get a second chance to come from behind as skills get honed later in the season. I have enjoyed the little league teams over the years as much as the kids running and defending the bases. My oldest daughter and two sons were on our team and had a step daughter that was fun to watch at Community Park. In all their games as pretty talented athletes. The exercise, the “good game good game” chant down the line at the end. Welcome to small town living in Houlton Maine.

The first year’s team I went all out. Investing a thousand dollars in to pin stripe uniforms that were sharp, professional. Did actually look like the New York Yankees in Red Sox Nation though. An expense account set up at the local Houlton Farms Dairy Bar for after hard fought games. Win or lose when everyone gets a treat. When you step up to the window and let the lady know what you want for a size and ice cream flavor.

Maine Little Leaguers. They Give Their All, They Hoop And Holler. Go Team!

Today the star pitcher who called me today out of the blue reminded me of the experience he went through. He was a very dedicated player, very good and tough on himself, others on the team. An inspiration but I did not know the whole story why. But heard painful bits and pieces of it that I suspected but did not know the who, what and where about of the background details.

I remember the catcher Danny Erikson saying Luke Barnard was all over him if he bobbled the pop fly, missed the cut off throw.

But Danny’s mom reminded him “Danny, Luke is no harder on you then he is himself.” She was right. Luke was playing for greater stakes than the town championship that he was able to secure for the team as the heart, soul of the “red machine”. It was more than just a Houlton Maine little league game to Luke. Not just a plastic gold trophy and being hoisted high on his team players’ shoulders for making it happen. Or the star in the parade float we pull behind our jeep each year in the 4th of July parade.

He was living in the shadow of his older brother Ryan who was equally talented, gifted. And came before him. Set the stage, records to break. Was the benchmark to meet and surpass if he could to find his own place in the sunshine of his Dad’s approval, acceptance.

Wanting his Dad’s admiration and needing to prove something to gain his love and affection. We all want to make our parents proud. But this is not a healthy application of that desire.

Coming out on top in the game was not just a try your best and you get an ice cream win or lose situation.

Luke had to win. Driven by more than sheer athletic prowess. And did one heck of a job on the mound and as a utility infielder all in one. He was everywhere on the little league ball diamond getting the plays under control to notch another win.

Play Ball. Baseball. Little League In Houlton Maine. Lucky To Be A Team Sponsor Since The Early 1980’s!

Today I got a call from the kid that was the heart and soul of my first little league team and he was looking for housing. We had the best conversation about what he went through, where he is today and he turned out to be a nice young man. And will be a heck of a Dad.

I will help Luke anyway I can and am amazed at what he shared with me. How great he became despite all the setbacks and growing up so early. Rescuing other family members in the process.

My childhood on the Maine farm was tame in comparison to the story Luke spun.

It can make you naive and blind to bad things that do happen to good people, especially kids that are not fair. Make whatever happens to you somehow allow you to land on your feet. And be better for it.

And when you hear someone crying out, that is broken, needing help, be there for them. Return the favor that someone extended you when you needed a friend or maybe did not deserve one as you worked on dark issues, hurt in your heart that made you less than a happy, grateful camper. Maine is famous for places to heal, special hidden areas to get away from people and open up your heart to improve.

Maine, get here quick as you can. Come for a day, stay a lifetime. Consider the move to become a coach and build a little league team. We need your talents and everyone contributes something in a small Maine town.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 |info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

April 16, 2012
Maine, Frugal, Saving A Buck Is A Survival Sport.

Maine, let’s establish right from the get go that frugal is not the same as, interchangeable with cheap.

One major distinction, difference.
Hard Work Outdoors On A Maine Farm. Not Much Idle Time.

Frugal is an “easy does it”,
slow as you go life pace.

That drives some
nuts.

Causes still others
to purr, be filled with a self
satisfying
content, peaceful
inner feeling.

Frugal, a consistent, creative way to what some term “live in gentile poverty”.

Cheap is an ugly maneuver that gives no credit to the finesse of haggling. Or how charitable you are when opening up the wallet to help others with the savings you landed in your everyday spending, living.

If you did not have to work for all the dead presidents you store away for a rainy day in your wallet or purse, the art of being frugal can lose its luster, appeal. Why bother if you have an endless supply of the green stuff? Or have no expenses around you needing a check written to cover them month to month.

But when two dollars IS a lot of money. Especially if you don’t have it readily available, or have no idea where it is going to come from. Suddenly the sting of reality, being pinched where it hurts can drive home the point and make it crystal clear.

Frugal as an art form survival tool adopted, put in to play by play, day to day is easy if raised on a Maine farm.

Seeing the practice work, embracing it can provide a sense of security. Knowing you are never apt to go out on a financial limb. And then hear a chain saw fire up that you started yourself by foolish, drunken sailor on leave like spending patterns.

Learn about The Tightwad Gazette, The Frugal Zealot.

Frugal, fix it yourself life thinking lets you stay on the Maine farm. And to consider if you don’t owe money you are rich. If you break even, you had a good Maine farm year. Gratitude is riches was one of many reminders my Mom taught her four boys. Happy is an attitude choice.

Frugal can not flourish, exist at all if your mental depression, blue moods are served, medicated by retail spending type healing actions. The practice of whipping out a stack of plastic cards to one by one tap in to credit limits at a store or on line are not a frugal lifestyle’s friend.

Better spending impulse control, shopping around for the best deal on the goods or service you find yourself needing means taking extra time.

To study up, get schooled on do you really need it? Can you tap in to your Jack of all trades experience or ambition to scratch the itch? And what about other resource priorities? Eye balled, thrashed out with MASH unit ER efficiency to determine the best all around course of action. To not bleed out, hit a major financial artery and code, flat line, die.

Every day dollars that you spend seem like just pennies. But the old adage Ben Franklin, your grandfather or someone penned still applies. Those pennies that seem trivial become dollars that are not. Do you just want it, or do you actually need it? (Said in a tone like Clint Eastwood’s “Do you feel lucky… well do you Punk?”) The urge to gotta have it can be replaced with the knowledge you don’t really need it. But could have it, step out and buy, purchase it if you did.

The good feeling of having your financial house in order is the secondary gain from not being quick on the draw to just automatically spend, spend, spend.

And fixing a needed household repair yourself is empowerment. Like bartering services. It’s own self reward of pure personal satisfaction that you can do it yourself. Flushing out, drilling down to get the best deal if you have to spend. Or doing it yourself without the rush to pick up a phone. And waving the white flag and crying for help.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
69 North Street Houlton ME 04730
info@mooersrealty.com

January 15, 2012
Maine, Easy To Forget Its Not Like This Everywhere.

Maine Is Simple Living, Always Involves Family, The Outdoors.

When you live in Maine full time, the lack of crime, the abundance of natural four season beauty can lull a person in to forgetting about places on the planet where it is just not this way.

In small town rural Maine towns, you get a satisfying, secure feeling of community too. A connection where all of us are needed. Everyone a vital part of the local fabric. All here to offer something worthwhile.

Like a covered dish church supper contribution. Creating a life of purpose. Involving, including our kids and teaching them by example that it is others that count. In a world of “me me me” when you watch and read beamed in signals that tout just the contrary.

Why is it different and so hard for other places to be like Maine? For starters, the focus is not about money here. True Mainers are content with basics.

Grateful for what we do have in Maine.

Not obsessed or lamenting over what we don’t need. Creating shelter for our families. Home grown food. Energy conservation with often local wood heat the norm. An abundance of love to meet that family’s needs in big supply. It all starts and ends with family. Our activities, fun, discipline, nurturing and end all goal is family.

When you live in the fourth lowest crime state, safety concerns are lessened. That anxiety is wiped off the board. Not like that in an urban area where eight out of ten people live these days. The cost to live here is divided by three and four compared to other places too.

Super Sized, The Living Is Home Made, Tasty. Small Pleasures Are The Biggest Ones.

Cheaper Maine real estate is quickly paid off, debt is not a friend or accepted condition either. Lower population because we are further away, insulated from crowds makes it spacious, roomy. So time not wasted stuck in noisy traffic, fearful of gangs, or fighting for space that cities have far too little off.

Go a third of a mile in any direction from a small Maine town and you are in the country. More wildlife than people. Respect for other people’s feelings, property a given. Probably why our insurance protection costs are cut in half and more in Maine too.

Lower population means the people here have a role in the community day to day. Have to step up, get involved. Each and everyone of us would be missed if absent a day.

Our Maine neighbors, family, co-workers and friends check in on us and we do the same with them.

We worry and care for elderly folks that are shut in, not able to drive and make sure they have what they need. It’s Martha, the widow or great aunt down the road in our thoughts. We call and remind her we are heading to the local store, do you need anything or why not come on along thinking. In expensive city living, Martha, who’s Martha? We all need each other in Maine.

Cats Have It Made Like Their Owners Living In Maine.

Less people means less wear and tear on the surroundings too. Lower mileage Maine means the crystal clean pristine lakes, the rolling woodlots and fertile fields are respected by the few that do live here.

Without sounding selfish, maybe I am glad there are less people in Maine. All boils down to the fact too many people would rock the boat. Mess it up. And I am glad the folks who do live here appreciate what we have with mutual respect.

Everything we have we worked for in Maine, it was not handed to us.

Wake up and start your dream in Maine. There is fierce pride in our home towns, our counties and state and deep appreciation for all we do have. Is that the way you are built, wired too? Be part of Maine, the way life should be.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com|

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

May 6, 2011
MeInMaine Author Andrew Mooers Moonlights On Active Rain Blog Platform.

The Local Flavor, Spark, Taste Of Maine. That’s Why Bloggers Do It.

Extra jobs to get the work done, complete the picture means a blogger in Maine has more than one venue he haunts, frequents.

In our effort to promote, get the word out about Maine and beat the drum, create the pattern of smoke signals, many blog platforms, video and imagery posts are created. All designed to support, extend the reach of our day job in selling Maine real estate. My boss at MOOERS REALTY encourages, sees the merit in spreading the word about what a neat state Maine is.

Active Rain blog is one of those frequent haunts. So is Flickr, Youtube.

Please check out our other work on these platforms. In the case of Active Rain, who better than one of over 188,000 members of the real estate industry, entrenched in their local community fabric to post about live like an eye in the sky, at the scene villager active in that part of the world they live, work, play in? Thanks for following us on the MeInMaine blog. I hope you find the visits worthwhile and informational, entertaining helpful.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

August 12, 2010
“Heading To Maine, Bought A Waterfront Cottage On Grand Lake.”

The Outdoor Entertainment Of Being On A Maine Lake, The Ocean, Something Connected To Waterfront.

If you owned a Maine waterfront property, wouldn’t getting excited about the next three day weekend stretched in to four days to be on an open deck over looking a lake be therapeutic, healthy?

To change up the scenery where you live now? Not to mention the advantages to owning a second home, a vacation place in Maine you could rent out carefully. Maybe you have been renting for the last few years. Think of the money someone has benefited from in your stay and you did not trash the place, make it look like a Stephen King movie was staged there.

Maine waterfront can mean property on the ocean, a lake, river, stream or pond. There is something about water like an open fire that attracts. Maybe it gives off positive ions like the blaze in the fireplace or outdoor pit you gaze in to. Detaching and catching up with yourself in your busy life.

Your kids splashing, fishing, learning to swim, sail and the nightly summer talks on the deck, grilled feasts are another reason. Maine waterfront is the best investment, the one you will have the most fun with. And appreciation?

Well, more than one person has smiled and uttered the observation that “they are not making any more Maine waterfront real estate.”

Your only homework is to figure out the monthly budget and to factor in if you owned a Maine waterfront property in this, this or this price range. You can do it and know years down the road will look back and kick yourself if you don’t. The time is right, here is an A-Z of properties in Maine, waterfront real estate from A-Z. And if this list does not quite do it, let us know your requirements, price range and I’ll tap in to our Maine MLS cookie car of ME waterfront real estate to help in the search. Here is an example of a place on 120 Butterfield Landing in Weston Maine for $159,900 with 110′ frontage on Grand Lake.

Or another spot, a video to watch on the Maine waterfront, 26 Sandy Beach Road, Danforth Maine. Or a Linneus Maine log lake home video.

Waterfront in Maine, lakeshore properties, you know it’s what the doctor ordered. To show down, smell the flowers, catch some fish, get new scenery and shake up your day to day routine. While you can.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

April 29, 2010
Maine Apartment House Rental Deposit, What About Getting It Back?

Like Picking Maine Potatoes, Any Money Earned Is Carefully Spent. What Happens To No Returned Maine Rental Security Deposits?

How precious is that security of a month in advance in the Maine rental agreement you scribble your name on a while back as the renter?

Your security deposit on your Maine home, rental house apartment was supposed to be put in to a special account, interest bearing to accrue to you too. Did the landlord do that?

And when you move, assuming no damage beyond normal wear and tear, or lack of last month’s payment in full or proration, you want the deposit and interest made back right? What happens if the property owner, Maine landlord does not give all or a portion back?

Well if he or she, the Maine landlord does not give you in writing notice within 21 days that you won’t be getting back some or all of the deposit due to an outlined list of damages and reasons why, things get dicey.

Triple the deposit damages and having to pay the renter’s reasonable attorneys fees to recover it thru the Maine court system is what happens. Being a landlord has lots of responsibilities, tasks, laws that go with it on top of smoke and co2 dedector legislation that got beefed up, going in to force a few months back in Maine. Read more about rental laws in Maine, security deposits, and be up to date.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

April 26, 2010