Named for the Native American tribe, the Penobscot River has a history as a colonial trade route and the delivery system for the logging industry in Maine during the hay-day of river driving. With its 4 branches and main stem it is reported to be about 350 miles long. The Penobscot originates from large northern Maine lakes and drains an immense area of northern Maine. Several other river system drain into the Penobscot such as the Mattawamkeag River, the Piscataquis River and the Passadumkeag River. One could spend a lifetime exploring the Penobscot and its many branches.

The north and south branches are in a remote wilderness part of Maine. Getting there requires a long drive over access controlled logging roads. The land owner association that owns these roads charges a nominal fee at the gates managed by North Maine Woods (www.northmainewoods.org) and also maintains many camp site locations along these stretches of river which they also charge a small fee for. This is a scenic area that will appeal to hikers and photographers. The river has a wild population of brook trout and landlocked salmon. The ruffed grouse hunting in this part of main is legendary. The north and south branches feed into the West Branch. This area is mostly owned by large institutional landowners. You can't find much land to buy here unless you are in the market for the occasionally offered township.

 

 

The West Branch of the Penobscot is THE whitewater river in Maine. The river segment beginning at McKay Station in the Ripogenus Gorge to Debsconeag Falls has a commercial rafting industry that thrills thousands every year. This section of river is also world known for its challenging fly fishing for wild landlocked salmon. This area is also mostly owned by large landowners and with much conservation easement you will rarely find any property for sale in this section with the exception of a few camps or cabins on leased land.

 

 

The upper reaches of the East Branch of the Penobscot is wild brook trout heaven. This section is a very scenic canoeing hotspot with views of Mount Katahdin and the other nearby mountains. Those canoeing this section should plan ahead for portages around a few tricky falls. Buyers looking for a camp or home site can occasionally find land for sale at the lower end of the East Branch.

The West and East Branches of the Penobscot come together in Medway to form the main stem of the river. From this point to the Atlantic Ocean is where you will find many small and large land parcels for sale. Prices here will vary greatly depending on the quality of the waterfront. From Medway to Old Town the river is noted as one of the best smallmouth bass fisheries in the United States. The river still has a small protected run of Atlantic salmon, sorry no fishing allowed for them at this time. A recent restoration project in the Bangor area has breached a number of old dams and has reopened the river to runs of shad, alewives and other anadromous species. This segment of the river is also a great spot for boating including trips from Bangor to the open ocean.

The Penobscot River is my favorite Maine river. If you come to Maine to buy land or just to enjoy the outdoors be sure to put it on your list of places to visit.

 

 

 

Lincoln, Maine - It has been a winter to remember, but spring is coming and many anxious buyers have been searching for lakefront and other waterfront land and lots this winter. While looking around the state for lake and pond properties with fair prices and easy owner financing terms, we found the following properties the best buys in Maine.

 

 

The Narrows on Folsom Pond has seven available waterfront parcels ranging in size from 1.8 acres to over 5 acres. Prices starting at $29,900 The survey map linked here shows the configuration of the lots, those that are still available and the prices. MAP OF THE NARROWS

Folsom Pond is a semi-remote pond hidden in the woods in Lincoln. The pond is connected to Crooked Pond by a navigable "Narrows" the division of land gets its name from. These two ponds are not lined with sandy beaches, this is not the perfect place to swim. There are other lakes and ponds in Lincoln that are ideal for swimming with a couple of sand beaches nearby. Folsom and Crooked are the perfect ponds for kayaking, canoeing or small power boating in a peaceful environment usually free of large boats and jet skis. The rocky and water lily covered shorelines are the perfect habitat for waterfowl, smallmouth and largemouth bass. Wild blueberries line the shorelines. There are some cabins on the pond but most are not visible when on the pond.

 

 

The owner of these properties is offering owner financing terms that make buying the land very easy. If you thought you could never afford a waterfront property, you should look into these properties. See these properties and more at LandBrothers.com

 

 

 

 

The parcel of the week is 1.7 acres on Cold Stream Pond in Lowell, Maine. The lot is one of the last properties available on the lake with a generous 100 foot setback. Over 230 feet of deep water frontage on Central Maine's premiere cold water lake.

 

 

 

The lot has a driveway installed and a septic design done for a 4 bedroom home. More prep has been done clearing the building site, pruning the lake frontage and being fully surveyed with boundaries and elevations.

 

 

 

 

 

The open building site has a gentle slope to the water and a south westerly view of the lake and its great sunsets. The owners left a buffer of heavy forest between the building area and the road for maximum privacy.

Enjoy the sunsets, boating, fishing and views on Cold Stream Pond. The lake is located only 40 minutes from Bangor, Maine. Call the Land Brothers today at 207-403-3400 for more information or to schedule a showing on this great property.

In 2006 and 2007 Maine experienced the hottest waterfront market in history.  Ocean, lake, pond and river properties for sale were benefiting from the boom of real estate values in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and the rest of New England.  Out of state buyers were flocking to Maine with cash from home equity loans on their primary residences.

In 2011 the waterfront market bottomed out based on the number of sold transactions.  Since 2011 we have seen a slow but steady increase in the number of single family waterfront transactions per year.  For example, in 2014 Penobscot County had seen an 80% increase in the number of sold transactions compared to 2011.

What are some of the causes for the increase in the number of Maine waterfront properties sold?

1. Record high levels of available inventory. Buyers have had a great selection of properties to choose from.
2. Prices are at the most affordable levels since the great recession started. Some locations are seeing properties selling for 25% less than the peak values of 2006-2007.
3. Record low interest rates. Current 30 year fixed rates are under 4%.
4. Record Stock Market Levels. Buyers are taking stock market gains and investing in Maine waterfront property.
5. Pent up demand. Buyers are starting to see the changing tide in the Maine waterfront market and are getting off the fence to take advantage of these conditions.

Why buy now?

Buyer activity for the winter months of 2015 has been the strongest we've seen at United Country McPhail Realty since 2007.

New listings coming on the market for the first two months of 2015 are down 11% compared to 2014 and down 7% compared to 2013.

If you are a buyer that has been sitting on the fence watching Maine waterfront for sale, timing is everything.  The balance of supply and demand is moving away from oversupply to a more balanced market.  These conditions will help to provide an upward pressure on values, especially on those waterfront properties that are priced aggressively and have the popular features buyers are looking for.

If you are an owner looking to sell your waterfront property, it is more critical than ever to hire the right Realtor.  What makes for the best waterfront realtor?  The following are some of the criteria to consider:

1. A real estate company with a strong online marketing program that focuses on lifestyle property types. A generic, cookie cutter, one size fits all marketing program will not work well.
2. A company with a strong print advertising campaign designed to reach buyers of lifestyle properties. Another part of a strong foundation. Affluent buyers still like to read print.
3. A brokerage that understands SEO and can help your property stand out from the crowd. It takes more than just a standard web site to be found first among the many.
4. A real estate company with a large database of buyers that can be marketed to from day one.
5. A real estate company that is part of an international network of lifestyle brokers.
6. A real estate company with years of experience that understands the best marketing, pricing and negotiating strategies to best serve their client's needs.
7. A real estate company that is continually staying on the cutting edge of new marketing ideas and technology.

For a free, no obligation consultation, give the United Country McPhail Realty team a call at 207-794-4338 to see the power of a custom lifestyle marketing program for your Maine waterfront property.

If you are like many of our customers concerned with having all of their retirement investments tied to the stock market you may want to look into a self-directed IRA. With a self-directed IRA you will be ready to act when you find that Maine land for sale that you know is a good investment.

What is a self-directed IRA?

The Individual Retirement Account or IRA has been around for many years as an incentive for individuals to save money tax deferred for their retirement. A self-directed IRA is simply an IRA that gives you complete control over what you invest in.

What can you invest in?

Unlike most IRA's offered by banks or custodians the self-directed IRA can be used for nontraditional IRA investments like real estate, notes, precious metals and many others. Maine timberland, farmland, land with development potential, waterfront and more could be a great diversification to you investment portfolio.

Pros

The best benefit of the SDIRA is the ability to have control over what you invest in. No one cares more about your retirement than you do. You can invest in what you know instead of letting others have control of your future. You can partner with friends and others on new investment opportunities. Your investments will grow tax deferred.

Cons

All investments have risk and a self-directed IRA will require you to do your own due diligence to mitigate risk.

Because this type of tax deferred account could have a lot of potential tax advantages for you the IRS has a lot of rules that need to be followed.

Is it right for you?

You will need to decide if the ability to control your own destiny is something you are comfortable doing. If you do not have time for researching your own investments you may want to stick with a traditional IRA. If you are one of a growing number of individuals concerned with the course of traditional banking and investing, the self-directed IRA is worth a look.

 

 

 

This new listing on Wilson Pond in Greenville, Maine is the best value on a vacation cottage setting lakeside with unobstructed views of the lake and Rum Mountain. This property has 11 +/- acres with the main camp, guest cottage, storage building, woodshed, dock and more.

 

 

 

This great family recreation property is priced to sell at $225,000. Call Peter at 207-794-4338 for an appointment to see it!

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Our new property listing on Saponac Lake in Burlington, Maine is our pick of the month for a lake front bargain. The property has electric, is on a year round maintained camp road, has a full septic, heat and all you need for 4 seasons of recreational enjoyment. The Burlington property comes with 10 acres and 300 +/- feet lake front. Priced at $139,900. Call Today!

 

Thinking about exploring Maine this year? Here is some inspiration. Thank you Catherine for sharing.

http://mainequarterly.com/thoreau/

 

 

Overview - Cold Stream Pond is one of the finest lakes in central Maine. It is very scenic with views of Mount Katahdin to the north and the "Bluff", a large elevated peninsula that separates the southern and northern basins of the lake. This large lake which is partly located in the towns of Enfield, Lincoln and Lowell, is probably best known for its incredible water quality and clarity. The water quality is so good that the state of Maine established a fish hatchery in Enfield using the lakes water via a pipeline.

The lake is supplied water by springs and also fed by the outlet of the two Upper Cold Stream Ponds located in Lincoln. This outlet is Smelt Brook and enters Cold Stream Pond in the northern basin. A few other cold brooks enter the lake including Miles Brook and the outlet of nearby Trout Pond in Lowell.

Size, Depths and Boating - The surface area of the lake is more than 3,600 acres. The upper basin is approximately 704 acres and max depth of 56 feet. The state lake survey says that the upper basin has good water quality but can suffer from lower dissolved oxygen levels in the later part of summer. This is a quiet place to explore large rocky coves with a kayak and is usually the first area of safe for ice fishing in the winter. The lower basin contains about 2,924 acres with water depths up to 104 feet. This is a deep round basin perfect for boating, water skiing and sailing.

 

 

 

Fishing - Lake Trout are native to CSP and naturally reproduce in the spawning beds within Webb Cove and other locations. No stocking is necessary to maintain this fishery. The lake is known to occasionally produce a trophy lake trout in excess of 20 pounds. Landlocked salmon and brook trout are maintained by a stocking program. One fish not mentioned on the online survey of the lake by Maine DIFW is the cusk. If you have never eaten this fish you are missing a real treat. The odd looking fish in the Cod family is somewhat difficult to clean unless you know how. Google search some videos on how it is done. I recommend the technique of skinning then filleting. Fishing regulations for Cold Stream Pond include no taking of smelts in the lake or tributaries, no size or bag limit on bass and daily bag limit on salmon is one fish. For all regulations click on this link to Maine 2015 open water and ice fishing regulations. CLICK HERE FOR MAINE FISHING REGULATIONS

 

 

 

Boat Landing and Beach Location - Cold Stream Pond has one improved boat landing located at the south west corner of the lake at its outlet. There is a concrete ramp and parking area located at the end of Old Hatchery Road near the center of Enfield. The ramp is located in the outlet and is sheltered from wind and weather. Large boats can be launched at this landing but use caution when exiting the channel of the stream as there are a few large rocks.

There is a public beach located on the western shore known as Morgans Beach. It is a beautiful sand beach and an excellent place for swimming and a family picnic. Traveling north on the Lincoln Road from Enfield village look for the signs for the beach on the right.

Real Estate Types & Values - Property types around Cold Stream Pond include small seasonal cottages and cabins which are mostly on the west shore of the lake. This was the area first developed nearly 100 years ago. Some of these properties have since been converted to year round homes. Finding land for building is rare on this side of the lake. Cottages will range in value from $125,000 to $250,000 depending on lot size, building and lake front quality among other variables. Year round converted properties will sell from $200,000 - $300,000 on average.

The eastern side of the pond was not developed until the late 1980's. Lots on this side of the lake are much larger because of changes in zoning regulations and required setbacks that went from 75 to 100 feet in residential zones and 250 foot lake setbacks in the resource protected areas of Enfield and Lowell. Most of the properties found on this side of the lake are much newer and larger than the west side. Most are year round residences. Property values on this side of the lake currently range from $250,000 to over $400,000.

Getting Here - From I-95 you take exit 217 and head east on Route 155 about 6 miles to the boat landing on Old Hatchery Road. The landing is located 39 miles from Bangor, Maine and 272 miles from Boston, Ma.

If you are looking for a perfect central Maine waterfront property see our listings linked CLICK HERE FOR MAINE WATERFRONT PROPERTIES.

Have you dreamed of having the privacy that a northern lake could offer?  Consider the opportunity to purchase an entire Maine island for sale. Pitch a tent, build a yurt or construct a cabin. This is a rare opportunity on a great body of water.

Where: Marion Township

• County - Washington
• Lat/Long 44.796145, -67.375532

 

 

Lake Description: Gardner Lake  

• Size - 3886 acres plus connected to 1,650 acre Second Lake
• Max Depth - 56 Feet
• Fish - Salmon, Smallmouth Bass, White Perch, Chain Pickerel, Smelt
• Boat Launch - Paved ramp with a well marked and designed facility, plenty of parking

 

 

The Island - Unnamed Island

• Size - 3.8 +/- Acres
• Building Site - Elevated site with panoramic views
• Trees - spruce, pine and maple

 

 

Nearby

• University Maine Machias
• Atlantic Ocean
• Maine Public Reserve Lands

 

 

Price and Terms - $70,000 cash

 

 

The 5.74+- acre lot is situated along Maine's Piscataquis River.  This surveyed parcel has public road access and is just 5 minutes away from I-95, yet is quite private and quiet.  The property has 1200+- feet of river frontage and sits high on a bank overlooking the Piscataquis River.

 

 

 

The lot has been soil tested and there is plenty of room to build a river front home or cottage.  The lot is heavily treed with a mixed growth of softwood and hardwood species.  Tracks of deer, moose and other forest creatures have been seen on outings to the property.

 

 

 

 

 

The lower portion of the property that extends to the river's edge benefits from heavy spring runoff which has deposited nutrient rich soil along the river's edge.  This area in the month of May erupts in green growth of one of Maine's wild delicacies, the fiddlehead.  This fern emerges as temperatures rise and waters recede and are a delicious and nutritious delicacy.  The waters of the river are home to many fish species from brook trout to smallmouth bass.

 

 

The property benefits from being located close to I-95 which makes it very accessible.  It is just 30 minutes from Bangor, ME with its shopping opportunities, world class health care found at Eastern Maine Medical Center and a multitude of dining opportunities.  Bangor International Airport makes travel to far off destinations convenient.  Educational opportunities abound at The University of Maine located just 25 minutes away.

This property is waiting for you to make it your home.  Convenient, quiet and pristine, the Piscataquis Overlook is available for you.  Call today and make this Piscataquis river front lot your new home.