{"id":14574,"date":"2018-02-14T15:53:47","date_gmt":"2018-02-14T20:53:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/?p=14574"},"modified":"2018-02-15T16:26:14","modified_gmt":"2018-02-15T21:26:14","slug":"maine-coast-on-a-shoestring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/maine-coast-on-a-shoestring\/","title":{"rendered":"Maine Coast on a Shoestring"},"content":{"rendered":"

February\/March 2018 | view this story as a .pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Looking for a million-dollar view<\/strong> with a rock-bottom price tag? Each of these\u00a0<\/span>waterfront treasures offers a gateway to freedom for $225,000 or less<\/strong>.<\/span><\/h3>\n

By Sarah Moore and Madison Andrews<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"FM18-Low-Houses\"The Bridge to Home<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

21 Barney Cove Rd, Beals<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

$159,000\u00a0 <\/span>|\u00a0 <\/span>0.3 acres<\/span><\/p>\n

Turn off Route 182 in West Jonesport and strike out across the bridge that connects Beals Island to the mainland. With your tires singing along the asphalt and sunlight glancing on the water, keep your eyes on the approaching shoreline. Halfway across, you\u2019ll glimpse the little cream Cape situated just to the right of the bridge. You\u2019re home. <\/span><\/p>\n

The two-bed, two-bath cottage at 21 Barney Cove Road <\/strong>is perched on .3 acres of shoreline, gazing back at West Jonesport. The stunning view is framed to the right by the bridge\u2013perfect for anyone who craves island life but wants a quick connection to reality for only $159,000. \u201cThe interior was completely remodeled in 2005, including improvements to the roof,\u201d says broker Billy Milliken. \u201cIt\u2019s a very well-appointed cottage.\u201d Polished oak floorboards and a bright kitchen complete with inviting breakfast bar makes 21 Barney Cove a freshly primed canvas to create your dream vacation or family home. The house is a year-round property and won\u2019t feel shuttered up and forgotten like so many vacation villages thanks to the working dock that borders the west side of the property. \u201cThe dock is owned by a local fisherman,\u201d says Milliken. \u201cYou can see all his lobster traps stacked up from your window. During the afternoon, you can watch the boat return with the day\u2019s catch.\u201d Maybe you\u2019ll even get friendly and strike up a shore-to-door deal on fresh lobsters. Think of the possibilities. <\/span><\/p>\n

Taxes are $1,100.<\/span><\/p>\n

House of the Rising Sun<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

318 Rays Point Rd, Milbridge<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

$199,300 | .53 acres<\/span><\/p>\n

Situated just 20 feet from the ocean\u2019s edge, the eastern-facing home at 318 Rays Point Road<\/strong> in Milbridge is impeccably positioned for watching those remarkable Maine sunrises. The house, called Sea Smoke, was built in 1974 when \u201csetback requirements weren\u2019t as strict as they are now,\u201d says owner John Bettis. \u201cYou get the most beautiful view.\u201d Except for the waterfront, the .53-acre property is surrounded by abundant pine trees and a grassy lawn. It\u2019s listed at $199,300.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tucked into a quiet neighborhood\u2013\u201cmost of the activity comes from seagulls, terns, and bald eagles\u201d\u2013on the marshy coastline of Narraguagus Bay, the two-bed, one-and-a-half-bath dwelling has a prosperous track record as a vacation rental, but it was originally intended for a family home. \u201cIt\u2019s a cottage-style place,\u201d Bettis says of the single-story building, \u201cand we wanted to keep it old-fashioned.\u201d But not antiquated. Inside, Sea Smoke feels spacious, thanks to an open-concept floor plan which includes the living room, kitchen, and dining area, complete with a high-vaulted ceiling and \u201cthree large sliding glass doors overlooking the bay.\u201d In winter, cozy up next to the hearth of the woodstove. Cool off in summer with a cocktail on the waterside patio, your front-row seat to the cinematic tidal bay. <\/span><\/p>\n

Taxes are $2,248. \u2013Madison Andrews<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Rough Diamond<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

206 McCorison Lane, Isleboro<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

$180,000 | acres<\/span><\/p>\n

Convinced a seafront home on Isleboro is out of your reach? Think again. You can call John Travolta and Kelly Preston neighbors once you collect the keys to your new home at 206 McCorison Lane<\/strong>, on the market for $180,000.\u00a0 <\/span>Arriving on the Margaret Chase Smith<\/em> ferry at Grindel Point, you\u2019re just a three-minute drive to West Penobscot Bay and a 616-foot, open-plan bungalow that faces directly out onto the surf.\u00a0 <\/span>Don\u2019t hesitate\u2013this opportunity won\u2019t wait around. \u201cIt\u2019s aggressively priced for a quick sale,\u201d says broker John Oldham of Island Property in Isleboro. \u201cThe property has the potential to be a tiny home,\u201d says Oldham. Full-length windows open to \u201cnortherly views of West Penobscot Bay and the wonderful beach. It\u2019s a great place for boating enthusiasts,\u201d Oldham says. You\u2019ll need to work on the ceiling, electrics, and interiors, but the property at 206 McCorison Lane promises raw potential for the right owner. <\/span><\/p>\n

Taxes are $1,755.<\/span><\/p>\n

Artist Retreat<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

11 Indian Creek Rd, Vinalhaven<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

$225,000\u00a0 <\/span>|\u00a0 <\/span>0.28 acres<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone is an artist at 11 Indian Creek<\/strong>. Perhaps it\u2019s the old floorboards, still effusing [a fragrance] of spruce. Perhaps it\u2019s the view of Indian Creek. Perhaps it\u2019s the light on the water and the sun slanting into the windows each afternoon,\u201d writes Martha Carlson on the Facebook page she created for 11 Indian Creek Road, the 1850s cottage on Vinalhaven she\u2019s selling after 50 years of summer vacations and \u201cthree years of tears\u201d spent reaching the decision to sell the property. \u201cI made the page to share my writing and recollections of the house. Many visitors have stayed there over the years, and they often post and comment on the page.\u201d Aspiring artists in search of a home have come to the right place\u2013Vinalhaven has inspired the likes of author Margaret Wise Brown and pop art icon Robert Indiana. <\/span><\/p>\n

The property in question is a petite former quarryman\u2019s cottage located a short walk from downtown Vinalhaven, on the market for $225,000. \u201cThe island had one of the state\u2019s largest granite quarry. Many of the homes around here are little dollhouse cottages built for the quarry workers with additions and extensions added over the decades,\u201d says Carlson. She and her husband, Rudy, have not expanded upon the property\u2019s original footprint. \u201cIt looks tiny. But then again, Rudy and I were private school teachers for many years and would host around eight students for a week of oceanography every summer, so it\u2019s deceptively spacious inside.\u201d Many of these former students are those liking and commenting on the Facebook page, nostalgic for the rustic cottage perched at the very edge of the marshy waters of Indian Creek, with a view of Ambrust Hill to one side, and a little row of houses and a causeway of quarried granite known as East Boston to the other. \u201cIt\u2019s about a mile walk along the trail around Indian Creek and over the causeway bridge. I can walk out and turn to wave at Rudy at the house at almost any point,\u201d says Carlson. <\/span><\/p>\n

Martha Carlson describes the interior of the two-bed, one-bath home as \u201caccidental interior decorating.\u201d The kitchen is straight from the 1970s, with funky floral wallpaper and pine units. Highlights include the two wood stoves, one a Vermont casting and the other a Franklin fireplace, and the little window seat in the living room looking onto the gentle tumble of grass leading to Indian Creek. You can\u2019t help but imagine yourself sketching the view from this enchanted spot.<\/span><\/p>\n

Taxes $2,375.<\/span><\/p>\n

Swan\u2019s Way<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

13 Mill Pond Road, Swan\u2019s Island<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

$195,000<\/span><\/p>\n

Put your stamp on this former post office on Swan\u2019s Island for only $195,000. The turn-of-the-century shingled Cape at 13 Mill Pond Road <\/strong>sits on a grass and wildflower slope that rushes down to 140 feet of private waterfront on Burnt Coat Harbor. The four-bed, one-bath home has been well maintained, possessing a well and full septic system, but will require renovations to upgrade the existing structure. But what the property lacks in modern amenities, it makes up for in heart and soul. The seller has retained the Minturn Post Office\u2019s original mailboxes and features, perhaps a nod to nostalgia, given \u201cshe\u2019s the daughter of the former postmistress,\u201d says broker Belinda Doliber. The charm of the home extends out back, where a picturesque shack offers views of the bay beyond. \u201cThe seller\u2019s father was a fisherman. The building was the workshop where he repaired his nets,\u201d says Doliber. Today it would make the ideal workshop or studio for a craftsman or creative type.<\/span><\/p>\n

The peaceful fishing villages of Swan\u2019s Island are just a skip away from glitz and glamour. \u201cThe Swan\u2019s Island ferry service takes you to Bass Harbor on Mount Desert Island in around 35 minutes,\u201d says Doliber. You can be sure you won\u2019t find waterfront properties of this price at the other end of the ferry route. <\/span><\/p>\n

Taxes are $2,583.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gazebo Dreams<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

103 Fickett\u2019s Point Rd, Milbridge<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

$215,000 | 4 acres<\/span><\/p>\n

Just 12 miles north of the Acadia Schoodic Peninsula lies the town Milbridge, nestled at the point where the Narraguagus River opens into the ocean. The picturesque town, with its commercial wharf, firehouse, and town hall, is the living painting that captivates you from a tiny gazebo on the opposite shore. \u201cI built the gazebo a couple of years ago,\u201d says Bob Ensslen, the current owner of 103 Fickett\u2019s Point Road<\/strong>. \u201cYou can look across the bay and see a great view of the town and the lobster boats coming and going.\u201d Turn your back, if you can, on the view and make your way along the grassy path lined by goldenrod and wild blueberries, leading back to a 3-bed, 2-bath clapboard home. \u201cThe property was built in 1870 by Captain Kelley,\u201d says Ensslen. \u201cHis family occupied the house for several generations. Much of the original plasterwork remains.\u201d Modernity hasn\u2019t been kept at bay, however. \u201cThere\u2019s a two-and-a-half car pull-in garage and some of the interior walls have been knocked through to create more space.\u201d The house sits on four acres of land, giving you 360-degree privacy. You need only stroll to the 200-feet of shoreline for evidence of life across the water in Milbridge. If that feels too far away? \u201cIt\u2019s only a short cycle ride across the bridge into town,\u201d says Ensslen. <\/span><\/p>\n

Taxes are $2,358<\/span><\/p>\n

Sittin\u2019 on the Deck of the Bay<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

31 Hardy Point Rd, Pembroke<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

$159,000 | 1.6 acres<\/span><\/p>\n

On a quiet point of land in Pembroke, just a hop, skip, and a jump from the Canadian border, you\u2019ll find a peaceful haven at 31 Hardy Point Road<\/strong>. Here, a three-bed family home sits upon 1.6-acres of lawn that ambles gently down to the mouth of Pennamaquan Bay. <\/span><\/p>\n

Already have one foot through the door? Lucky for you the house is move-in ready. There\u2019s ample space both inside and out, including a 2,200-square-foot garage with power for any motorheads. The generous lawn, dotted with birch trees, allows direct access to the bay, making it an easy spot to launch kayaks and canoes for a day paddle past the tiny islands and coves that scatter along Pennamaquan Bay. A highlight of the property is undoubtedly the second deck (the first is right outside the back door), perched right over the shoreline, complete with wooden pergola. Imagine yourself there on a summer afternoon, the trellis wound with clematis and Virginia creeper, relaxing with sundowner cocktail in hand as the water slips slowly past. <\/span><\/p>\n

Taxes are $1,730. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

February\/March 2018
\nLooking for a million-dollar view with a rock-bottom price tag? Each of these waterfront treasures offers a gateway to freedom for $225,000 or less.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14578,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[191,207,127,209],"class_list":["post-14574","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","tag-februarymarch-2018","tag-homes","tag-maine","tag-waterfront-property"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14574","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14574"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14574\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14579,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14574\/revisions\/14579"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14574"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14574"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14574"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}