Tag: mooers realty

What’s It Like Peddling Property In A Small Maine Town?

When you live in a little rural Mayberry type town, that is what you are selling…small town values. Friendly people and a community that cares.

Trusting, no locked doors, willing to help. Northern Maine prices are so much lower than the rest of the world as the jobs are rewarding but giant pay to sport a couple Hummers in the yard is not the reason to move here. You won’t make as much money…but you won’t need to. Homes for $39,900…what’s the catch? Ahhh..let’s get out the map (unfolding sound of paper map) You are here (pointing) and way way up here on the Canadian border..Yes..that’s Houlton Maine. Aroostook County is the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island…and only 11 people per square mile. No road rage…no long delay getting across town. When you are a rural broker, property with land….farm type

Harvesting Maine potatoes with machinery and high school students.

listings are asked for alot. Selling single family homes in town is part of the gig, but acreage..getting the Jeep out back on the rear 40 acres is what many that want the path less traveled are interested in.

Since 911, folks in the populated areas have not felt safe…and their life is like a gerbil on a treadmill…frantic. They decide to cash in their real estate chips there…have some money left over after buying the farm or farmette or victorian in Northern Maine. Before they have a stroke and have to retire in the city, they opt out for rural america. Baked beans Saturday night. Church on Sunday, and maybe even Wednesday night. 4th of July parades with homemade floats, little leaguers marching, high school bands, yesteryear autos…and plenty of horses, fire trucks and armed forces units! Community involved on local boards, sponsorship of everything group going because you make your money here and want to give back…that’s life where the sky is bluer…the stars are brighter…and the people are spaced with lots of elbow room. Slow down…explore life in rural Maine. Grab a granola bar…turn on the Crosby Stills and Nash…reach for the Mother Earth News and start walking, sitting on porches watching sunsets and living…not just mad dash work work work!

School goes in three weeks early the end of summer..and then youngsters get out for three weeks of harvest when the potatoes are ready to pick! For pickers, 60 cents a barrel which is four baskets full and weights 165 pounds. For potato house and harvester workers the big minimum wage…which seems like a fortune to local 16 year olds that want an ipod or new stylish winter coat. The kids take better care of what they buy…and they choose carefully not wasting any of their own money. They equate if something is worth say six barrels of potatoes if sixty cents a barrel is the pay per barrel. They learn how hard money is to make, and what it buys or does not buy depending on how much time you put into getting the best trade. Better impulse control happens too when it comes to spending habits with their own money.

Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers

March 25, 2009
Maine Winter Living Does Not Mean Hibernation.

We get out and enjoy the great outdoors of Maine. Snowmobiling, down hill and cross country skiing, ice fishing, ice hockey. Just a few of the past times and spring skiing especially can be fun. Watch another in the Maine community video series we shoot, edit and upload to show the beauty of

Maine Winter Fun In The Sun And Snow!

“Vacationland”. Big Rock ski area in Mars Hill Maine is right next to the Canadian New Brunswick border. One of if not the first place the sun rises and hits in the United States due to the elevation.

Snowmaking, state of the art groomers, friendly staff and 28 trails, 5 lifts in place. Besides skiing at affordable, family friendly prices, the home made soup, sandwiches and snacks make this a winter entainment home run. Try the snow tubes, tackle snow boarding or strap on some skis to feel the sun and wind as your gravity swish swish to the base lodge for something warm to drink!

Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers

March 22, 2009
Hopping Off The Bus, Remember Walking Up The Driveway As Kid Smelling Doughnuts Cooking.

     Hard day at school, and after hopping of the bus, I enter the Maine farm house met by the smell of mom cooking fresh chocolate donuts.

Maine Youth Work On The Local Farms Growing Up.

   This is one of many fond childhood memories. No doubt your mom made some dishes like no other since. Potato salad, baked beans we grew, and home made bread was another family crowd pleaser. To dine on after working hard on the Maine farm land. Or repairing buildings or working in the potato house loading trailer trucks.The spud loads headed to produce centers in the winter destined for markets in Boston, Hartford or New York City.


Growing up on a Maine farm meant I saw my parents a lot thru the day, and worked hand in hand with my three older brothers.

In addition to raising potatoes, grain, dry bean and sugar beets, we planted a very large truck garden and sold produce at a farm stand. This income helped get us thru the summer when most of the household dollars are planted in the ground, waiting on fall harvest to get the crop into potato storage. Now local Aroostook County farmers also grow peas and broccoli. Lots of grains.

We were never hungry, had mittens /hats knit by mom, used our imaginations and had fun as a Maine farm family.

We learned about mechanics, carpentry, work ethic in addition to farming. Back in the 1800’s, 96 percent of us were living on family farms. Now less than 3% of the population raises food or critters. Northern Maine is well know for spud production, Washington County and Down East for blueberries. We sold lots of corn, squash and strawberries at the farm stand too. With Canada roughly two miles away, we crossed the border to pick apples and strawberries to resell too.
Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers – Selling Small Rural Maine Properties Especially Farms and Land Listings.

March 14, 2009
Northern Maine Soap Box Derby Race June 20th!

     “The Thrill Of The Hill” will for the 14th year happen June 20th. Trial

Gravity Racing In Identical..(Almost) Kit Cars.

safety runs happen the day before for soap box derby racers ages 8 to 17 in Northern Maine. The Houlton Maine derby race on Derby Hill, a specially engineered course used for spring and fall rallies too, is so easy to set up and take down. Safety is the main concern and in the past, the Aroostook County, Northern Washington / Penobscot County race was the nation’ s largest. For five years straight, upwards to 200 boys and girl stock, super stock and master racers have competed in “heats” to advance thru the race brackets to determine a Northern Maine champion for each race division. I had two racers, a son and daughter win the event in 1998, 2001 to go on to the 72nd All American national soap box derby race in Akron, Ohio.

     At one time there were five local districts racing in Maine. It is a great experience for kids to learn about building a car with parent or big brother/sister. Skills with tools and patience needed, and friendly competition with your family cheering you on. There is a big party for racers and their families after each local race in June to celebrate and send off the winners to represent Northern Maine in Akron, Ohio’s world series of racing.

     Northern Maine which attracts racers from up to two hours away in Aroostook, Washington and Penobscot Counties has had many top competitors finish runner up to the winner in Akron, or a little further down the line in the finals proving the Houlton race is very polished and competitve. Watch the 2008 Houlton Maine derby race video. Watch the 2007 Houlton Maine derby race.

Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers – Working, Playing, Living In Houlton ME

Waiting to soap box derby race in the next heat to determine the winner.

Loaded in the gates topside, waiting for a green light and release of the gate to race.

Topside, ready for a green light to head to the bottom.

March 14, 2009