SRE_0720

VOL. 48, No. 5 

MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE & NEW HAMPSHIRE 

HIGGINS BEACH, OCEANVIEW 

SCARBOROUGH, MAINE 

NEW INSIDE: A REMODELING FIX 

TORREY & ASSOCIATES REAL ESTATE 

33 Dover St., Suite 124, Brockton, MA 02301 • torreyre.com 

SOLD 

www.ArakelianRealEstate.com 

295 Boston Road, Billerica, MA 

Office: 978-667-2301 

REAL ESTATE INC. 

Licensed in MA, New Hampshire & Maine 

BILLERICA - COMMERCIAL PROPERTY FOR SALE 

BUILDING AND LAND ONLY - $900,000.00 

BROCKTON — UNDER CONSTRUCTION! 

Brand new townhouse 

currently under 

construction. Tri-level 

with a 3rd floor Master 

Bedroom Suite. 2nd floor 

– 2 bedrooms & full bath, 

1st floor – fully applianced 

kitchen, dining, living room 

& half bath, lower level 

with family room, laundry 

room & full bath. Central 

air, ceiling fans, hardwood 

in living room & bedrooms, 

tiled floors in kitchen, 

dining and lower level. 

Offered at $374,900 

SEE PAGE 3 FOR DETAILS CALL TODAY! (508) 580-8440 

207-369-0100 

www.riversiderealty.org 

National study shows 

what homeowners really 

want from their roofs 

STATEPOINT 

MADISON ME 

Gorgeous 2 story 7 room home with 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms 

wrap around decks overlooking Wesserunsett Lake with 100 feet of 

water frontage, a 70 foot dock and boat lift. A 2 car garage 26x40 

with storage overhead. New living room & bath floors, spiral stair 

case, new roof, paint and wall paper, new walls in master bedroom, 

new pellett insert fireplace! 2 new exterior doors and meticulously 

landscaped. Currently only waterfront left for sale #2152 

MLS #1497714 

$426,900 

SEE MORE OF OUR LISTINGS ON PAGE 21 

Replacing your roof? Insights from a new 

nationwide survey may help you better understand 

the many facets involved in this important 

decision. 

The “2021 Roof Purchasing Study” conducted 

by Signet Research Inc. for DaVinci Roofscapes, 

shows that consumers want durable 

roofs. Nearly 85 percent of those surveyed 

indicate that durability has a lot of influence 

in the type of roof they would purchase. Longevity 

of a roofing product was the second 

highest influencer, followed by resistance to 

severe weather. 

Mother Nature Match-Up 

Study results indicate that severe weather 

damage is the most likely event to prompt 

homeowners to replace their current roofs, 

followed by age of their existing roof. When 

it does become necessary to replace the roof, 

32 percent of respondents indicate they are 

“very likely” or “likely” to consider a faux roofing 

product, such as composite slate or shake 

materials, which typically stands up to se- 

ROOFS, 6

2 SAY YOU SAW IT IN SUBURBAN July 20, 2021 – August 23, 2021 

MASSACHUSETTS 

Tips to ease the stress of 

relocating to a new area 

STATEPOINT 

Approximately 35 million Americans 

move every year. But unlike most times 

when homeowners largely change addresses 

within the same city or county, 

2020 saw a sharp increase in relocations 

between 50 to 500 miles away. 

“The pandemic has opened the 

eyes to many that they can effectively 

work remotely. Thus, homeowners 

are leaving pricy or cold-weather areas 

for warmer and more affordable 

regions, such as our community in 

Georgia where the cost of living and 

weather is more appealing,” says 

Raoul Rushin, real estate business 

developer and president of The Landings 

Company, a master-planned 

community located 10 miles outside 

downtown Savannah, Ga. 

However, as exciting as it is to relocate 

to a dream area, heading to a 

new city is one of life’s most stressful 

events. Use these tips to ease your 

concerns. 

Ready, Set… Research 

The best way to overcome the stress 

of the unknown is with research. 

Learn more about areas you’re considering 

online. Find local publications 

with ratings of communities 

and suburbs. Gather data on average 

temperatures, extreme weather tendencies 

and proximity from key features, 

such as water, work or transportation. 

These factors will help you 

narrow in on a few top areas. 

Next, social media can help you 

gain insights on the people. Join 

neighborhood or city Facebook 

groups. Post questions. This is also 

a great forum to gain recommendations 

for a realtor. 

Finally, visit in-person to ensure 

you’re choosing the location right for 

you. 

“Once you’ve narrowed your search, 

it’s important to experience the community,” 

says Rushin. “At The Landings, 

we offer Discovery Visits to allow 

potential homeowners to fully immerse 

themselves during a three- to four-day 

stay in one of the neighborhood homes.” 

Healthcare Hassles 

Relocating also means changing 

your healthcare and many times insurance 

providers. Ask your current 

doctors for recommendations in your 

new area. Research local hospitals 

or specialists. Depending on your 

healthcare needs, this could be a key 

consideration. Ensuring that your 

physical health is covered is key to 

reducing stress and maintaining 

good mental health. 

Location, Location, Location 

Think long-term. “Many homeowners 

choose to relocate based on a favorite 

vacation spot,” notes Rushin. 

“However, the remote, relaxing feel 

of your getaway may not be ideal for 

your forever home. Proximity and 

easy access to shopping, entertainment, 

schools and professional services 

should be key considerations.” 

PHOTO | GETTY IMAGES 

Lifestyle Luxuries 

Once you’ve keyed in on the city, 

don’t just jump to house shopping. Instead 

find the right community that 

fits your lifestyle. Are you a golfer, biker, 

nature-enthusiast? Think about the 

things that bring you the most pleasure 

and look for neighborhoods or communities 

offering these activities. 

Social Support 

One of the most difficult parts of relocating 

is leaving your support system 

of friends and family. Research 

social clubs or other activities that 

you can get involved with to meet 

others with similar interests. 

“At The Landings, more than 50 

percent of our buyers are from out of 

state, so we help facilitate friendships 

through our New Neighbors group,” 

says Rushin. “The unique social group 

welcomes members to participate in 

a variety of activities and events for 

the first two years after their move 

to make new friends, as well as learn 

about the rich history of the area and 

the community.”

July 20, 2021 – August 23, 2021 WWW.SUBURBANREALESTATENEWS.COM • 978-532-5880 3 

MASSACHUSETTS 

REAL ESTATE, INC. 

Licensed in MA, New Hampshire & Maine 

295 Boston Road, Billerica, MA 01862 

Office: 978-667-2301 

Fax: 978-667-7779 

www.ArakelianRealEstate.com • sales@ArakelianRealEstate.com 

SUMMER IS HERE! 

HIGGINS BEACH - OCEANVIEW 

SCARBOROUGH, MAINE 

COVER 

CHELMSFORD - $1,250,000 

UNDER AGREEMENT 

IT'S A SELLER'S 

MARKET 

LIST YOUR 

PROPERTY 

WITH US NOW! 

SOLD 

Developers, builders and investors. GREAT 

opportunity to develop on 9.4 acre site with 

residential/industrial zoning. CALL FOR DETAILS 

BILLERICA 

NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY 

2,500 SQ. FT. - $1,700/MO 

BILLERICA - 

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY FOR SALE 

BUILDING AND LAND ONLY 

$900,000.00 

BILLERICA 

COMMERCIAL - SPACES TO LEASE 

Great location to start your own sub shop. 

All equipment included, franchise possible. 

Drive-thru possible, needs approval. 

NOTE: This listing is not for the sale of the 

existing businesses, they will remain as tenants 

if the buyer is agreeable. Arakelian RE, Inc. 

Affordable Lock and Key and The Vacuum 

Doctor. 26,017 sqft. lot. Located on busy Boston 

Road, Billerica, MA. Building footprint is 2,496 

sqft. Much potential. This is an exclusive listing. 

UNIT 1 - 295 SQ. FT. 

$700/MONTH + UTILITIES 

UNIT 3 - 100 SQ. FT. 

$400/MONTH + UTILITIES


MASSACHUSETTS 

6 budget-friendly tips to 

create a cozy outdoor oasis 

STATEPOINT 

With life returning to 

normal and summer upon 

us, it’s a good time to focus 

on creating an outdoor 

space to enjoy on warm 

summer evenings. Whether 

it’s a place for unplugging 

and relaxing alone 

or gathering with guests 

and entertaining, having 

a spot that you can enjoy 

well into the fall is key. Below 

are six tips for turning 

an average patio, porch or 

deck into an outdoor oasis. 

1. Whether you use your 

outdoor space for reading a 

book on a summer day or 

catching up with friends 

on a warm night, incorporating 

plants into this 

area can create a barrier 

for privacy. Plant bushes, 

place large planters in corners 

or put hanging baskets 

on hooks around the 

perimeter. For small patios, 

you may even consider 

building a planter wall. 

Not only will it help with 

privacy, but it will also add 

color and dimension, making 

the space feel like a 

sanctuary for you and your 

guests. 

2. Add string lights overhead 

to create ambiance in 

your space at night. Duck 

Max Strength Nano-Grab 

is a versatile double-sided 

tape you can use for 

mounting. It’s clear, holds 

up to 20 pounds per 5-foot 

roll and sticks to painted 

drywall, wood, glass, tile, 

metal, stone and brick 

without leaving a residue. 

Nano-Grab will keep your 

lights secure and in place 

and make it easy to take 

them down and store for 

winter. 

3. If you are sticking with 

the rest and relaxation 

vibe in your outdoor oasis, 

think about adding a fountain 

or other small water 

feature for relaxing background 

noise. Keep that 

sense of zen going into 

the night with a fire pit, 

heaters or bamboo torches 

for warmth on cooler evenings. 

4. For those interested in 

entertaining guests, you 

may want to mount an 


outdoor TV for watching 

summer ball games or a 

sound system for listening 

to background music. 

You’ll want to ensure this 

equipment is properly installed 

for outdoor use in 

areas safe from wind and 

rain. 

5. Creating an outdoor 

dining area doesn’t have 

to break the bank. When 

entertaining guests, a 

beverage cooler, bar cart 

and BBQ station are convenient 

additions you can 

make to what already exists 

on your patio. Building 

a cart or station for storing 

paper towels, tin foil and 

other essentials for the 

grill master can be a fun 

DIY project, too. 

6. Having an amazing 

space doesn’t always mean 

starting from scratch – you 

can simply add a fresh coat 

of paint in a bright color 

palette to update existing 

privacy walls or tables and 

chairs. All you need is a 

can of paint and a roll of 

FrogTape brand painter’s 

tape to keep lines crisp 

and clean. As for color, you 

may be tempted to keep 

it neutral, but don’t shy 

away from crisp blues and 

soft yellows. They will give 

a fresh and fun feel for all 

your summer entertaining. 

For additional tips and 

uses for Nano-Grab, visit 

duckbrand.com. 

With just a few simple 

tweaks, you can transform 

any outdoor area into a 

beautiful oasis ideal for 

rest, relaxation and fun.


MASSACHUSETTS 

978-853-7104 

www.lbmodular.com 

3D design process helps 

visualize and customize 

your new home 

All prices include delivery and set-up on your foundation 

COLONIALS Starting at $136,250 

CAPES Starting at $99,300 

RANCHES Starting at $88,000


National study shows what homeowners 

really want from their roofs 

ROOFS 

From 1 

vere weather and is known for its 

longevity. 

“Mother Nature pounds roofs on 

a regular basis,” says Mark Pagel, 

general manager of DaVinci Roofscapes. 

“Homeowners recognize that 

hail, high winds and severe weather 

can take their toll on roofs. They’re 

reacting by seeking out roofing materials 

that will stand up to strong 

weather conditions. While price is 

an important consideration, respondents 

of the survey are focused more 

on value. They’re interested in investing 

in durable roofing materials, 

like synthetic slate and shake tiles, 

which are guaranteed to hold up to 

severe weather conditions.” 

Contractors are Influential 

When it comes time to select a 

specific roofing brand, 61 percent of 

MASSACHUSETTS 

homeowners are looking for a quality 

product. To find that roofing brand, 

57 percent are relying on their contractor 

for recommendations, which 

is more than they do on family and 

friends (35 percent), or even their 

own personal experiences with a 

brand (37 percent). 

“Homeowners understand they 

may choose a new roof only once 

or twice in their lives,” says Pagel. 

“They also understand that contractors 

make these decisions many 

times a year for their projects. The 

research indicates homeowners respect 

and value the recommendation 

of contractors who work regularly 

with different building products.” 

10-Year Comparison 

A national survey sponsored by 

DaVinci Roofscapes in 2011 provides 

insights into changes in consumer 

attitudes toward their homes in the 


span of the last decade. In a comparison 

of the 2011 Color Study (conducted 

by Harris Research) and the 

2021 Roof Purchasing Study, results 

show: 

• A strong growth in homeowners 

valuing the curb appeal of their personal 

properties in the past decade 

(78 percent viewing it as “extremely” 

or “very important” in 2011 as compared 

to 88 percent with similar feelings 

in 2021). 

• An increase in homeowners seeing 

their home exterior as a reflection 

of their personality (71 percent 

in 2011; 85 percent in 2021). 

• While durability remains the biggest 

influencer of a roofing purchase, 

the second-most popular influencer 

has changed dramatically. In 2011, 

longevity was the second response. 

In 2021, that has changed to pricing, 

up from the number eight position 

10 years ago. 

• Severe weather damage remains 

the number one reason for replacing 

a roof. However, is 2011, 65 percent 

said severe weather would prompt 

a new roof purchase (with 9 percent 

reporting current roof damage from 

a weather-related event), compared 

to 57 percent in 2021 (with 32 percent 

reporting a currently damaged 

roof from severe weather). 

• While 23 percent of homeowners 

reported replacing their roof due to 

old age in 2011, 44 percent (almost 

double) said old age was the reason 

to replace a roof in the 2021 study. 

• Color preference has remained 

consistent. Black is still the most 

popular roof color, followed by gray, 

brown and beige/tan. 

For more roofing insights, visit davinciroofscapes.com. 

Bottom line? A new roof can be a 

good, solid investment, especially 

when your roof is able to withstand 

the elements over the years and look 

great while doing it.


STATEPOINT 

MASSACHUSETTS 

Protect your feet when tackling 

home improvement projects 


Did you know many 

home and yard projects 

contain hidden dangers 

for your feet? The good 

news though, according to 

foot and ankle surgeons, 

is most injuries are avoidable 

if you take appropriate 

precautions. 

Amber Shane, DPM, 

FACFAS, an Orlando-area 

foot and ankle surgeon 

and Fellow Member of 

the American College of 

Foot and Ankle Surgeons, 

sees many patients coming 

in with foot and ankle 

injuries from home improvement 

projects gone 

wrong. “Feet may be the 

last thing people think 

about while working on 

home improvement projects, 

but we see so many 

different types of foot and 

ankle injuries in our office 

-- many of which can be 

avoided with proper shoe 

wear and extra caution,” 

Dr. Shane says. 

Dr. Shane advises to 

avoid working in bare 

feet or in sandals when 

engaging in any projects 

around the house, even 

the projects that seem 

harmless such as power 

washing decks or using a 

ladder. 

According to Dr. Shane, 

if you’re not paying close 

attention while power 

washing, and not keeping 

a firm grip on the machine, 

the stream from 

the washer can hit your 

feet instead of your intended 

object. “The pressure 

from a heavy-duty 

power washer is strong 

enough to take off the 

superficial layer of skin, 

especially on the toes. 

So, it’s best to wear fully 

closed-toed shoes to help 

avoid injury or damage to 

the skin,” she says. 

Dr. Shane recommends 

wearing a sturdy, supportive 

shoe with good 

treads when doing roofing 

work or projects that 

require climbing up and 

down a ladder. “Sturdy 

shoes will provide proper 

traction to keep a good 

grip and prevent any slipping. 

Repeated climbing 

on ladders without good 

support can lead to injuries, 

including stress 

fractures and neuromas 

or nerve compressions,” 

she says. 

When working on wood 

surfaces such as decks or 

flooring, it’s best to wear 

closed-toe shoes to save 

your feet from slivers or 

puncture wounds from 

nails or wood splinters. 

Dr. Shane suggests, “To 

help protect your feet 

from injury, avoid wearing 

flip flops or soft-soled 

shoes, such as popular 

foam-type clogs, while in 

a construction zone with 

exposed wood.” 

If an injury does occur, 

Dr. Shane recommends 

contacting a foot and ankle 

surgeon near you to 

have the injury properly 

examined and treated, or 

for serious injuries, visiting 

the closest emergency 

room. To find a foot and 

ankle surgeon in your 

area and for more healthy 

feet tips, visit the American 

College of Foot and 

Ankle Surgeons’ patient 

education website at 

FootHealthFacts.org. 

DIY projects can bring 

tremendous joy and satisfaction 

to homeowners. At 

the same time, they are 

associated with certain 

risks. Use proper care 

and precaution to keep 

your feet safe and injury-free.


MASSACHUSETTS 

How and 

where to 

add plants 

in your 

home 

STATEPOINT 

So you want to become 

a plant parent? How do 

you make sure your new 

green “baby” will thrive 

in your home or apartment? 

When selecting the best 

spaces in your home for 

different types of plants, 

it’s important to consider 

light, humidity and 

maintenance required, as 

well as what benefits that 

type of plant will bring 

to the space. Wild Interiors, 

the leading grower 

in all things green, offers 

tips for success. To learn 

more, visit wildinteriors. 

com. 

From bathrooms to bedrooms 

to offices, you can 

make the rooms of your 

home healthier and more 

more inviting by becoming 

a plant parent.


NEW HAMPSHIRE 

BUY NOW WHILE PRICES ARE LOW! 

DOUBLE WIDES NEW 14 WIDES 

List Price: $61,995 

$55,995 


$58,995 

56' 2 Bed 

68' 2 Bed, 2 Bath 


$85,995 $93,995 

40' 3 Bed, 

2 Bath 


$103,995 

48' 3 Bed, 

2 Bath 


$59,995 

64' 2 Bed, 2 Bath 

BUY NOW WHILE 

PRICES ARE LOW! 


48' 3 Bed, 

2 Bath 

Homes From COLONY, 

NEW ERA, & TITAN 

MODULARS 

$159,995 

2 Bedroom 

$129,995 

3 Bedroom (Base Price) 

$197,995 

1,900 sq. ft. 2 Story 

1st Floor Master Bedroom


By Jeff Ostrowski 

BANKRATE.COM 

In normal housing markets, 

Americans want 

move-in ready homes. But 

the post-pandemic housing 

market is far from normal, 

and soaring prices have 

home shoppers changing 

their expectations. 

According to a TD Bank 

survey of Americans aiming 

to buy their first home 

in 2021, fully 71 percent 

aren’t looking for a dream 

home. Instead, they’re 

shopping for a starter 

home or fixer-upper. 

For buyers frustrated 

by the lack of inventory 

and rocketing prices, older 

homes can be a good compromise. 

Of course, buying 

a fixer-upper means you’re 

taking on a project, one 

fraught with uncertainty. 

Scott Lindner, national 

sales director at TD Bank 

Mortgage, says buyers 

need to prepare themselves 

for the special challenges 

that accompany 

home renovations, such as 

dealing with contractors 

and making endless runs 

to Home Depot. He spoke 

with Bankrate about the 

fixer-upper trend. 

Q: What’s driving the interest 

in fixer-uppers? 

A: We’re seeing prices 

rise. The National Association 

of Realtors says prices 

rose 23.6 percent from May 

2020 to May 2021. This 

low inventory has been out 

there as an issue since the 

financial crisis of 2008. We 

haven’t really been adding 

a lot of inventory. 

Q: What types of loans 

are available for renovations? 

A: Many lenders have 

an FHA 203(k) loan which 

allows people to buy a fixer-upper. 

If it’s a smaller 

amount, you can do the old 

tried-and-true credit card 

balance — but you also 

need to understand what 

that means from an interest-rate 

perspective. 

If you already own the 

home, a home equity loan 

is an option. Many home 

equity loans will go up to 

a 90 percent loan-to-value 

ratio. And with interest 

rates where they are today, 

if you didn’t refinance 

in the last year and a half, 

it might make sense to go 

ahead and do a cash-out 

NEW HAMPSHIRE 

In hot housing market, fixer-uppers 

present opportunities — and challenges 

PHOTO | TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE 

For buyers frustrated by the lack of inventory and rocketing prices, older 

homes can be a good compromise. 

refinance. 

Q: What advice do you 

give a first-time buyer considering 

a fixer-upper? 

A: First and foremost, be 

part of the inspection process. 

Buyers don’t always 

take this seriously. Maybe 

they hang out in the living 

room while the inspector 

makes his rounds. You 

should become attached at 

the hip. Really look at the 

inspector as a person to 

go around with and learn 

about the property. 

Also, a great way to buy 

a house is to put in a lot of 

sweat equity. If you can do 

a lot of work yourself, you 

can potentially save a lot 

of money. 

There’s the potential of 

discovering additional issues, 

so be cognizant of 

cost overruns. 

Lumber prices have 

been going up, so buyers 

should be prepared for and 

thoughtful about cost increases. 

Q: What’s a common mistake 

made by buyers of fixer-uppers? 

A: The biggest and most 

hurtful mistake is underestimating 

the cost of your 

renovation. No matter 

how well you think you 

estimate, there are always 

surprises. You have to assume 

that there are going 

to be cost overruns. It’s 

better to go into it anticipating 

that. Probably in 

the back of your mind you 

should be thinking of a 15 

to 20 percent cost overrun.


NEW HAMPSHIRE 

REALTOR ® - ASSOCIATE BROKER 

603-723-0521 

Teamner.com 

martel.remax@yahoo.com 

232 Glen Avenue | Berlin, NH 03570 | 752-0003 

LLC 

Berlin, NH 

One level, 18,842 Sq.Ft building on 1.10 acres! Main Street/Route 16 location. Multiple areas with offices, show rooms and 

garage space. Majority of the property is being used as an indoor and outdoor vehicle storage location. Inside storage ($35 a 

month per vehicle). Outside storage ($25 a month per vehicle) $50 a month per outside covered bay. Large fenced in area with 

gated access. A large amount of parking on site. Overhead doors. "Unit 1" features 2 offices, half bath and showroom. "Unit 2" 

features office, office/lunch room, half bath and showroom. "Unit 3" features overhead door, showroom, half bath and storage 

area. This property was once a car dealership and has large display windows and features 301 Ft. of road frontage. Would 

make a great place to add outside self-storage units and continue the indoor and outdoor vehicle storage. Endless possibilities 

to accommodate virtually any type of business. River views! ATV friendly area, ride from this property to the miles of the miles 

of trails the area has to offer. Rare business and investment property. Need to view, to truly appreciate the amount of space this 

property has to offer. 

MLS# 4857865 

Berlin, NH 

$199,900 

Well maintained and cared for commercial building located in the center of downtown and situated on Main Street. 2 one 

bedroom apartments on the 2nd floor, both are occupied, and the tenants are long term and pay for their own heat! There are 

two spacious 1st floor retail/office spaces, or easily convert the two spaces to one HUGE 1st floor space for your business! One 

space is currently occupied at $900 a month. The other space will be available shortly for rent or you can use for your own 

business! Both 1st floor spaces have currently been renovated and have restrooms. Full basement. Newer furnace and hot 

water maker, vinyl siding/brick and updated electrical. Super location in the heart of downtown with high visibility. Opportunity 

is Knocking! 2nd floor apartments: $425 and $400 a month. Use one of the apartments for yourself and let the tenants pay 

your mortgage and utilities! 

MLS# 4839740 $149,900


By Roger Vincent 

LOS ANGELES TIMES 

The Los Angeles County 

office rental market is 

showing early signs of stabilizing 

as businesses shed 

space at a slower pace 

in an apparent calculation 

that better times are 

ahead. 

Facing a shaky economy 

during the worst months 

of the pandemic, many 

companies pulled back on 

their office rentals by taking 

less space when their 

leases came up for renewal 

or attempting to sublease 

space they weren’t using. 

Office leasing in Los Angeles 

County fell to its lowest 

point since the Great Recession 

in the April-June 

quarter last year. 

Vacancy rose again in 

the second quarter of 2021 

from the year-earlier period, 

yet at a reduced pace 

as the number of leases being 

signed picked up while 

the economy began to rally, 

real estate brokers said. 

“We’re not out of the 

woods yet, but we have 

reached an inflection point 

where the momentum has 

shifted,” said Eric Willett, 

director of research in the 

Southwest for property 

brokerage CBRE. Full recovery 

is not expected until 

2025. 

Overall vacancy in buildings 

reached 17.6 percent 

in the second quarter, up 

substantially from 13.9 

percent in the same period 

last year but little changed 

from the first quarter, 

CBRE said. 

MAINE 

LA’s office market skid slows 

as workers trickle back 

The brokerage measures 

vacancy as the amount of 

space in a building that 

is not leased and does not 

reveal how many workers 

are actually present in 

their company offices on a 

given day, a measurement 

that became more significant 

when many employees 

were sent home to 

work during the pandemic. 

About 28 percent of workers 

in the Los Angeles area 

came to their offices last 

week, according to Kastle 

Systems, which provides 

key-card entry systems 

used by many companies 

and tracks patterns of 

workers’ card swipes. That 

was up slightly from the 

previous week, but below 

the national average of 

about 32.7 percent 


The breakfast time rush at downtown popular dinning place, Grand Central 

Market, in Los Angeles, Calif. 

The amount of sublease 

space on the market 

jumped in 2020 and there 

was still a net increase in 

recent months to record 

levels, CBRE said, but 

about 1.5 million square 

feet was pulled off the 

market in the first half 

of the year by companies 

that decided to hang on to 

their office space. 

“That’s a very substantial 

sum and gives the 

sense that these companies 

are returning to the 

office and have confidence” 

that they can pay their 

rent in the future, CBRE 

broker Jeff Pion said. 

Entertainment company 

Lionsgate withdrew 

200,000 square feet from 

the market that it had 

planned to sublease in 

Santa Monica. 

Significant questions 

remain about how companies 

will change their 

office use patterns as they 

return from working at 

home, but “we are seeing a 

lot of companies, especially 

the large companies, making 

long-term space commitments,” 

Pion said. 

One large entertainment 

company, Creative Artists 

Agency, just renewed its 

300,000-square-foot lease 

in Century City for another 

four years, CBRE said. 

Overall asking rents by 

landlords fell to $3.82 per 

square foot per month 

from $3.90 a square foot in 

the previous quarter but 

were still above the $3.73 

per square foot in the second 

quarter last year.


“Your Home Town Realtor” 

T 5 

MAINE 

207-943-5225 • 800-943-5225 

www.dewittjonesrealty.com 

P. O. Box 103 Milo, Maine 04463 

WATER FRONTAGE! 


Bradley: Very unique property for the outdoor 

enthusiast, the 18 acre property is completely 

off grid with a mile long gated driveway in which 

the seller has made recent improvements to, you 

still need a four-wheel-drive to get there. You can 

come by boat or float plane. With over 1500 feet 

of Stream frontage, the property abuts Maine 

public land conservation, you are truly alone with 

no neighbors. 

MLS 1495089 $189,900 

Ebeemee Twp: Year round camp on 1.02+/-acres, 

with 131’+/- of shore frontage on Ebeemee Lake. 

2 bedrooms, 1 bath, eat in kitchen, living room 

and extra room with built in murphy bed. 24x28 

garage with 2 overhead doors, 12x16 shed and 

12x32 pole barn good for parking your camper 

or RV. Nice level lot. 

MLS 1495865 $239,000 

Orneville Twp: Cozy cottage just short walk to 

Boyd Lake. Inside of cottage is finished with 

knotty pine, has plenty of sleeping area and is 

nice and cozy on a cool night with the woodstove. 

Ideal place for just a get-away or your 

hunting and fishing trips. Nice open farmers 

porch and right of way to the lake. 

MLS 1493948 $89,900 


Lake View Plantation: Here’s your opportunity to 

own a lovely home right on the shores of pristine 

Schoodic Lake. Well maintained with 3 bedrooms, 

3 full baths, loft area for sleeping or great 

area for office space, living room with fireplace, 

sitting room/den as you come in, large kitchen 

with views of the lake so you can cook and enjoy 

the views. Master bedroom over looks the lake. 

Detached garage and 2 out buildings. Aluminum 

dock comes with the property. 

MLS 1493573 $499,000 

Dover Foxcroft: Nicely maintained commercial 

building and property was retail sales, walk in 

cooler 30 x 36’ 1/4 of that being freezer, there is 

an additional back lot that goes with this property, 

45 minutes away from Bangor 45 minutes 

to Moosehead Lake region, this property is just 

minutes from the center of town close to the 

shopping mall and other businesses. 

MLS 1474912 $269,000 

Milo: Well established eat in restaurant which is 

currently open and serving family style meals. 

Three bedroom apartment upstairs that can 

be used for a rental for extra income or for the 

owners to live. ATV & snowmobile trails nearby 

to make it easy for your customers. Come take 

a look today and get ready to start your new 

adventure. 

MLS 1480311 $168,000 

Brownville: This 5 bedroom, 2 bath , 2876+/- 

sq. ft. Victorian style home has most all of the 

original details left and has been meticulously 

taken cared for. Some of the features include 

the beaded wood work, tin ceilings, tin walls, 

hardwood floors, mosaic tiled bathroom, light 

fixtures and the slate roof. There is a lovely brick 

fireplace in the parlor that has arched openings 

and folding doors to separate the parlor from the 

formal dining room. 

MLS 1496451 $299,900 

Brownville: Great opportunity for an entrepreneur 

to start up a new business. Formally used as 

a restaurant, but this building has so much 

potential to be converted into, indoor storage 

cubicles, a home or a duplex etc., so many 

uses. Some of the features with this property are 

a metal roof, newer septic system with 2-1500 

gallon concrete septic tanks with a grease pit, 

2 bathrooms. kitchen area and open concept. 

Easy access to recreational trails. 

MLS 1484631 $138,000 

Check out our website for land listings. 

Brownville: Well established convenience store 

with great traffic flow. This is your one stop 

shopping place. Great little restaurant, dine-in or 

take out, do your laundry while you are enjoying 

a bite to eat, have an ice cream for dessert, do 

some grocery shopping, fill your car up with 

gas and bring in your returnables to help pay 

the bill. ATM machine, good line of hunting and 

fishing supplies. Newer washers and dryers in 

the laundromat. 

MLS 1484713 $275,000


MAINE 

A remodeling fix 

Pandemic lockdowns and ultra-low mortgage 

rates helped spur many U.S. homeowners to 

invest in remodeling their home in 2020, and the 

trend is expected to strengthen at least into next 

year, according to researchers at Harvard 

University. 

The university’s Joint 

Center for Housing 

Studies’ latest leading 

indicator of remodeling 

activity, or LIRA, suggests 

homeowner spending on 

improvements and repairs 

will climb to $370 billion 

by the end of the first 

quarter of 2022. That 

would be a 4.8% increase 

from the $353 billion 

spent in the January- 

March quarter this year. 

Spending on home remodeling surged about 

5.7% in the first quarter from a year earlier. The 

increase followed another round of pandemic 

stimulus aid from the federal government, which 

delivered $1,400 direct payments to many 

Americans. 

Researchers are 

predicting homeowners will 

tackle more costly 

renovation projects in 

2021. 

If the forecast holds up, 

the trends should continue 

benefiting home improvement 

retailers like Home 

Depot, whose stock price 

climbed to an all-time high 

Monday. 

U.S. home-improvement spending 

$400 billion 

est. 

Fixer-upper: Many 

people are using 

stimulus money to 

tackle bigger home 

improvement 

projects. 

350 

300 

Source: JCHS at Harvard University 

250 

2Q 

3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 

’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 

Alex Veiga; J. Paschke • AP


MAINE 

beangroup 

Bringing People Home. 

323 North Street, Saco, ME 04072 

207-282-5000 

www.beangroup.com 

ildings, 

WELLS/KENNEBUNK/SANFORD - 

30 acres Davidson Way, Wells 

Opportunity Awaits You on this 30+ acres close to the 

Sanford Airport, Shopping, Turnpike and More. Could be a 

private family estate, or build 4 or 5 exclusive homes in the 

Kennebunk and Wells areas of the property. Some Businesses 

are also allowed. Office Buildings, Storage Buildings, etc. 

Mousam Lake is just 25 minutes, Wells Beach and the Atlantic 

Ocean is just 20! Come and take a look! MLS #1462481 

$200,000 Call/Text Jane Frankland 207-229-6261 

MLS #1462481 

$200,000 

WATERBORO - 

221 Main St, Waterboro 

Great Opportunity in Waterboro for your new business/es! 

This area is growing in leaps and bounds and this 1+ acres 

parcel is zoned for 2 Businesses. There is plenty of room for a 

drive-thru window to be added to existing building or build 

to suit your needs. There is ample space for parking, easy 

access and a great location! Ossipee Lake is just down the 

road! Check this out and call for an appointment. MLS 

#1490443 $495,000 Call/Text Jane Frankland 207-229-6261 

MLS #1490443 

$495,000 

HOLLIS - 

25 acres Killock Pond Rd, Hollis 

Nicely wooded 25 acres with over 470 feet of paved road 

frontage. This acreage is just off Route 35 and near the 

Poland Spring Bottling Plant. This would be a great place for 

a private estate with lots of room for a barn or large garage. 

Nice spot for a daylight walkout basement and is just minutes 

to Swimming, Fishing, Trails & Shopping. Lots of options here, 

come and take a look! MLS #1492679 $137,000 Call/Text 

Jane Frankland 207-229-6261 

MLS #1492679 

$137,000 

BALDWIN - 

Lot 7 Freemont Woods, Baldwin 

Be the First to buy in this new Subdivision! Steps to Baldwin's 

Sand Pond Beach and Boat Launch and just 45 minutes to 

Portland and the Maine Mall and also to North Conway, NH! 

Come and see how nice Country Living in Maine can be! 

Build your new home or order a modular home. No mobile 

homes. Minimum of 1,000 sq ft of living space above grade 

required. Come and see this lovely area! MLS #1500322 

$49,900 Call/Text Jane Frankland 207-229-6261 

MLS #1500322 

$49,900


By Zach Wichter 

BANKRATE.COM 

I’m breaking the fourth 

wall right off the bat here 

to say that I have a little 

personal experience with 

this topic. My dad is an 

independent residential 

electrician on Long Island, 

New York, so I’ve been 

around the building trades 

my whole life. For as long 

as I can remember, I’ve 

been hearing things like 

“there are no kids on these 

job sites anymore,” and 

more recently, “even in my 

60s, I’m the youngest person 

on the job.” (He’s not 

nearly as curmudgeonly 

as I’m making him sound, 

I promise.) 

But he’s not wrong, either. 

Labor shortages in 

the building trades are 

a well-documented issue. 

The Bureau of Labor 

Statistics (BLS) reported 

that as of April there were 

357,000 unfilled construction 

jobs. Some experts 

believe that could be a 

significant undercount 

because BLS bases its 

numbers on payroll data, 

and many contractors are 

self-employed, so they 

don’t maintain a payroll 

MAINE 

The building trades have a labor 

shortage. That means higher prices 


Carpenter Shane Bentley, 20, of Rochester helps 

to rough in a house under new construction in 

Shelby Township. 

roster. NAHB estimated 

that as of 2019, 2.4 million 

construction workers — 

roughly 22 percent of the 

labor force, a record low 

rate for the industry — 

were self-employed. 

With coronavirus encouraging 

more homeowners 

to take on remodeling 

projects and shifting 

homebuyer tastes in the 

real estate market, the 

homebuilding industry is 

under particular pressure 

with such a depleted labor 

force. While stakeholders 

across the industry are 

working to address the 

ebbing tide of craftspeople, 

the longstanding trend of 

hands-on jobs struggling 

to attract new entrants is 

a difficult one to reverse. 

There’s no single, easy-topin-down 

cause of the labor 

shortage in construction. 

Most industry watchers, 

however, said that there 

are two major factors that 

— although they don’t explain 

the trend entirely — 

are major contributors to 

the employment gap. 

The first is how construction 

jobs are perceived in 

our increasingly high-tech 

world. 

“It’s been an issue for 

decades, trying to attract 

enough people into the industry,” 

said Paul Emrath, 

vice president for survey 

and housing policy research 

at the National Association 

of Home Builders (NAHB). 

Many parents encourage 

their children to pursue 

white collar jobs over concerns 

about what construction 

work might entail. 

“We spent a generation 

or two, a couple decades at 

least, suggesting that — 

or at least the perception 

is — it’s not a good career 

path,” said Ed Brady, president 

of Home Builders Institute 

(HBI). “We, as a society, 

were steering young 

people to four-year universities 

to get their degrees.” 

The other key factor that 

turns people off from construction 

jobs is the cyclical 

nature of the industry. 

“People were scared away 

during the housing downturn 

when we weren’t 

building anything, and a lot 

of them were scared away 

permanently,” Emrath said. 

The result is that more 

contractors are leaving the 

field than are joining it. 

“We’re losing five to every 

two new tradespeople into 

the industry,” Brady said. 

This trend is bad news 

for consumers, because 

it generally translates to 

higher prices. 

“It definitely can drive 

up the price of the house 

because it extends the 

time of completion for it 

to go on the market,” said 

Greg Zick, assistant vice 

president for workforce development 

at NAHB. 

“We’re losing that craftsman, 

that plumber who 

can rough in a house in two 

days because they’ve been 

doing it for 30 years. Now 

we’re bringing in someone 

new and they’re going to 

take five days instead,” 

Brady added. More time 

means a higher price tag, 

which is only compounded 

by rising material costs.


MAINE 

We’re REALTORS 

Real Estate 

Is Our Life! 

158 Main Street, Route 26 

South Paris, Maine 04281 

“Busy as 

Bees to Residential - Commercial - Waterfront - Land & Farms 

Please.” 

207-743-9303 T www.bizrealty s 

.net e-mail: biz@bizrealty.net 

1 T 23 

Norway ME $375,000 

MLS#1487120 

Beautiful updated 3,600 sq. ft. home in desirable location. Spacious living room with French doors, 

built-ins, hardwood , and insert. Eat in kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Dining 

room with plenty of room for gathering and celebrating. Sunroom overlooking backyard. Second and 

third have spacious rooms with a balcony. Whole house generator. Close to country club and golf 

course, enjoy the lake and hiking trails. Minutes to downtown. 

Paris ME $32,700 

MLS#1437976 

Great location just outside of town. Country 

setting, stonewalls, neat country club and golf 

course. Build or dream home and enjoy the quiet 

setting but minutes to town. Modular homes 

welcome. 

Woodstock ME $512,000 

MLS#1499875 

This 1850's, one story Cape is truly a historic beauty. Restored 

to maintain its classic charm, the "Old Redding Post" has 

wood burning stoves, a wood cookstove, and Jotul propane 

stove. The addition of a 2 car garage, whole house generator, 

sauna, and Anderson tilt windows w/ invisible screens makes 

the home even cozier during the winter months. Must see this 

picturesque property to take it all in! 

Paris ME $550,000 

MLS#1460960 

Location. Busy RT. 26, great visibility. 1.25 acres. 

Two buildings, many options. Live in one, run 

your business out of the other, rent the house for 

extra income. Currently used as a . Open 

concept offers many different uses for the building. 

medical, , daycare, classrooms, retail. 

Plenty of parking. Great investment property. 

Buckfield ME $88,500 

MLS#1494711 

Single wide 4-room, 2-bedroom, 1-bath Ranchstyle 

mobile. Pitched roof, vinyl siding, 1.15 

acres. 

West Paris ME $132,000 

MLS#1487940 

432 square foot ranch style home with 1 bedroom 

and 1 bath. Set on a private 12 acres. Call 

and schedule your private showing today 

Paris ME $60,000 

MLS#1493806 

5-room, 2-bedroom, 1-bath home on .50 acres 

with metal roof and vinyl siding. 

Harrison ME $66,700 

MLS#1438015 

Spacious former lodge building waiting for new 

owner with ideas for use. Post & beam construction, 

metal roof, endless possibilities. 

SEE ALL OUR LISTINGS 

207-743-9303 www.bizrealty .net e-mail: biz@bizrealty.net


MAINE 

ESSEX MEDIA GROUP 

So much more than the Item. 

If you’re looking to reach consumers 

residing on the North Shore, 

tap into EMG’s publications: 

• Daily Item 

• The Peabody Weekly 

• The Lynnfield Weekly 

• La Voz 

• Suburban Real Estate News 

• 01907 The Magazine 



• North Shore Golf 

• Itemlive.com 

For more info on EMG’s publications, 

please contact Ernie Carpenter at 

781-593-7700 ext. 1355 or 

ecarpenter@essexmediagroup.com


MAINE 

Cell: (207)-332-7544 

KingRealEstate.com 

OLD ORCHARD BEACH MAINE 

Stunning new Colonial under construction with dramatic stairwell, galley style kitchen, formal dining room, family room, 

and living room (or make one into first floor bedroom), heat pumps for heat and AC, enormous master suite over 3 car 

garage with office/den and en suite bath with soaking tub, hardwood floors, granite counters, 3 guest bedrooms on second 

floor with guest bath, laundry hookup on second floor and plenty of room for toys in 3 bay garage all located on quiet end 

of cul de sac lot with wooded area behind and close to beach, highway and amenities. 

$629,900 

OLD ORCHARD BEACH MAINE 

Just steps to beach at this charming Bungalow style single family beach house with 3 large bedrooms, huge office area, 

enclosed 4 season sunporch or den area, living room with beamed ceiling, built ins and fireplace, huge office with built ins, 

galley style kitchen with plenty of storage, huge eat in kitchen area with built in bench, large laundry room with mud room 

area, and full basement with workshop area. Fencing will be installed for small grass area off front of property. 

$539,000 

SEBAGO MAINE 

Entertainers Dream! This charming year round cottage located just steps to one of Sebago Lake’s inlets boasts privacy while offering a 

modern contemporary feel inside. Recently renovated, the kitchen was designed with entertaining in mind, with the wrap around bar and 

open concept features and SS appliances this home will be the host to all of summers get-togethers. After spending the day on Maine’s 

most desirable lakes take a soak in the hot tub or relax by the fire pit. 2 ROW with access to Sebago Lake and common boat launch ramp. 

Plenty of room to store boats and jet skis on expansive lot with sheds and make bunk house into three season game room. 

$499,900


By Dom DiFurio 

THE DALLAS 

MORNING NEWS 

DALLAS — In the grips 

of a historic pandemic, 

Dallas-based apartment 

locating service Smart 

City leaned in, welcoming 

hundreds of new employees 

and expanding into 

nearly half a dozen new 

markets in other states. 

Led by 33-year-old founder 

and CEO Cassie Brown, 

the company has a simple 

mission: Connect renters 

with an apartment space 

where they can be themselves. 

Smart City negotiates 

with apartment properties 

to lease out empty 

units in bulk, oftentimes 

locking in lower rates for 

renters. 

“I think everyone really 

wants to be able to look on 

the internet and have all 

the perfect answers, but 

when they realize how overwhelming 

it is, sometimes 

they just want somebody 

who does,” Brown said. 

The company, which started 

with just a few workers 

in 2013, expects to see more 

than $40 million in revenue 

this year and will operate in 

at least 10 cities. 

The Dallas rental market 

is hot, leading the country 

in net apartments leased in 

the first quarter, and landlords 

leased a record number 

of apartment units in 

the second quarter. 

“We literally find an 

apartment every 15 minutes,” 

Brown said. “When 

properties run specials, 

they call us first. When 

they’re doing six weeks 

free, eight weeks free, they 

let us know first. When 

they drop prices on units, 

they let us know first.” 

Smart City was one of 

the first apartment locating 

companies to successfully 

leverage viral social 

media marketing in the 

rental space in the mid- 

2010s. Today there are 

16 agents behind Smart 

City’s Instagram accounts. 

They field hundreds of requests 

for apartment locating 

services in different 

cities each day. 

“Social media is usually 

where they find us. (Renters) 

contact us by web 

form, text message or DM 

… and then we try to get 

them with an agent within 

15 minutes,” Brown said. 

Meeting the company’s 

goal of a 15-minute response 

time has gotten 

harder with the demand 

the company has seen this 

year, Brown said. 

MAINE 

How a Dallas apartment locator went from 

Instagram account to $40 million business 


The Smart City company has a simple mission: 

connect renters with an apartment space where 

they can be themselves. 

And that’s despite its recent 

expansion. 

Smart City went on a 

hiring spree at the onset 

of the pandemic, bringing 

on around 420 contractors 

and full-time workers over 

the past 12 months. 

“We can’t hire fast 

enough,” Brown said. 

Brown began the company 

in earnest in 2013 

when she relocated from 

Austin to Dallas with her 

wife. She got her real estate 

license, hoping to sell 

million-dollar mansions, 

before realizing that she 

didn’t know any millionaires, 

she said. 

“I was like, ‘All right, 

what do my broke college 

friends need?’” Brown 

said. “They all need apartments.” 

So she started apartment 

locating, first making referrals 

for friends and 

family as she hunted for 

the most desirable properties. 

The business picked 

up a viral following online 

after Brown and her early 

business partners started 

sharing the apartments 

they found on Instagram. 

“Properties started calling 

me saying, ‘Hey, we 

want to be on your Instagram. 

We want to be featured,’” 

Brown said. 

“It turns out there’s a 

real need in the market for 

what we’re doing,” Brown 

said. “We’ve been able to 

save a lot of our clients a 

pretty decent amount of 

money just by the power 

of social media … and it 

helps the property. They 

need their vacancies to go 

down immediately.” 

The original Dallas 

Smart City Apartments 

Instagram page surpassed 

100,000 followers in September, 

according to social 

media tracking site Social- 

Blade. It operates separate 

pages for each market it 

serves. And the headquarters 

office just south of 

Deep Ellum’s main drag 

is the home base for 80 

full-time employees and 

a number of real estate 

agents who work directly 

with clients. 

In addition to Dallas, the 

company now has physical 

offices in Austin, Houston, 

Fort Worth, Denver and 

Atlanta, while workers in 

San Antonio, Nashville, 

Orlando and Chicago operate 

out of co-working 

spaces. 

“Always free for you,” 

the company advertises in 

the bio section of its Instagram 

page.


MAINE 

Roger Whitehouse 

Sally Arsenault 

Diane Paterson 

John Freeman 

Rick Nelson 

152 River Road, Mexico, ME 04257 

207-369-0100 

www.riversiderealty.org 

Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. 

It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it. 

Rumford - 

Residence 

Exceptional 2nd 

floor office complex 

with 8-9 rooms 

and 3-4 bathrooms 

totaling 3312 sf of 

office space. The 

unit has handicap 

accessibility with a 

chair escalator. High 

Traffic count being 

in the heart of down 

town shopping! 

#2136 MLS# 1478679 

$125,118 

Dixfield – 

Commercial 

Commercial building 

with 6075 sf of retail 

space (3375sf of the first 

floor) and (2700sf on 

the second floor with 

original tin ceilings)! a full 

basement garage for 2 

vehicles! Ceiling height 

of 16 feet +- property 

sits on 3 lots totaling .33 

acres with 245’ of road 

frontage right on busy 

Route 2 and Main street 

with exceptional high 

traffic count. This is an 

exceptional great solid 

building to start your 

business! 

#2131 MLS# 1476961 

$168,240 

NEW! 

NEW! 

Rumford - Residence 

Modified 1946 Cape with 9 room 

rooms, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 

partially finished basement, and 

detached 2 bay garage. .28 acre 

corner lot in desirable neighborhood 

neear a high school, 

recreational park, swimming hole 

and near grocery and convenient 

stores. 

#2148 MLS#1492727 $169,504.00 

Dixfield – Commercial 

Great investment opportunity 

located in the center of town. This 

spacious building provides many 

opportunities with 2 large rental 

areas in the front of the building. 

There is a large storage area for 

each unit! One unit has a half 

bath and the other unit has 2 half 

baths. There is, also, a 2 bedroom, 

1 full bath apartment in the back. 

The apartment needs extensive 

renovations. Each unit has its own 

heating system and oil tank. Call 

today for more information. 

#2151 MLS#1494117 $110,000 

Mexico - Multi Unit 

GREAT STARTER FOR THE FIRST 

TIME INVESTOR. This 2 unit 1 and 

2 bedroom units conveniently 

located in center of town close to 

restaurants and convenient stores. 

Positive cash flow! 

#2127 MLS#1473770 $59,999 

Rumford - Multi Unit 

1905 2 unit apartment building 

in the process of renovation to be 

used as a grow house! 4 rooms 

total! Tucked between two other 

buildings and conveniently located 

to downtown business district, 

library, restaurants and more. And 

minutes to Black Mountain of Maine 

and Sunday River Ski Resort. 

#2095 MLS#1450316 $39,919.00 

LAND, LAND, LAND, LAND, LAND, 

LAND, LAND, LAND, 

Dixfield 

#2123 MLS#1472345 $25,000 

2.45 Acres 

Rumford 

#2139 MLS# 14796 $27,366 

4.25 Acres 

Mexico - Residential 

Quaint 1930’s 6 room cape with 

2 full baths and 3 bedrooms a 

detached 1 car garage and well 

manicured yard on .09 acre in town 

near schools. Very neat and clean 

with thermal pane windows. Ready 

to move in. 

#2147 MLS#1488898 $155,4444 

Dixfield 

#2124 MLS#1472347 $25,000 

2.33 Acres 

Canton 

#2135 MLS#1478177 $125,000 T-W 

69.7 Acres 

Mexico 

#2137 MLS#1479510 $40,000 Comm 

.34 Acres 

Bethel 

#2140 MLS#1480072 $189,000 

33.578 Acres 

Rumford 

#1944 MLS#1147763 $15,500 

.28 Acres 

Rumford 

#1964 MLS#1354252 $172,000 

256 Acres 

Byron - Residential 

This 1972 mobile home has been well 

maintained and offers a 16X30 addition. 

It has a spacious kitchen, dining room, 

living room and master bedroom plus 

a laundry room, 2 bedrooms and a1 full 

bath. Sits on 1.25 acres with ITS/ATV 

trails, swimming, gold panning, hiking, 

etc ... nearby. This property is located in 

a great recreational area. Only minutes 

from the Rangeley Great Lakes region. 

#2097 MLS#145243 $80,000.00


By Jeff Ostrowski 

BANKRATE.COM 

Home prices are soaring, 

pushed higher by a combination 

of record-low mortgage 

rates, strong demand 

from buyers and a lingering 

lack of new construction. 

In 2021, a new factor put 

pressure on home prices: 

Month after month, lumber 

prices jumped to new 

highs. Lumber costs soared 

more than 30 percent from 

January through May. 

However, lumber prices 

finally are cooling a bit 

as lumber mills ramp up 

production to meet the 

frenzied demand. In June, 

futures prices for lumber 

dropped below $1,000, 

off 45 percent from their 

springtime peak. 

Even so, the National Association 

of Home Builders 

says steep lumber prices 

still tack thousands 

of dollars onto the cost of 

a new home, an unwelcome 

increase for buyers 

already struggling to find 

homes they can afford. The 

trade group has lobbied 

President Joe Biden and 

Congress to end tariffs on 

Canadian wood sent to the 

United States. 

The Labor Department’s 

producer price index shows 

lumber more than doubled 

from May 2020 to May 

2021. The National Association 

of Home Builders 

says the price tripled in 

just 12 months. 

Activity on the futures 

markets has been even 

more eye-popping. The 

price of lumber for March 

delivery resembles a 

price chart for bitcoin or 

Gamestop shares. 

A series of cascading effects 

Usually, homebuyers can 

ignore the intricacies of 

lumber futures markets 

and trade policy with Canada. 

But the intensity of 

the price spike for wood is 

affecting consumers. 

The National Association 

of Home Builders points to 

a variety of setbacks created 

by the lack of lumber. 

A builder in Georgia says 

he has been forced to postpone 

construction starts, 

delays that will limit housing 

supply going into the 

spring selling season. 

A builder in Alabama 

reports that the bill for 

lumber used to frame a 

typical new home jumped 

from $35,000 a year ago 

to $71,000 now. Mirroring 

that observation, the 

National Association of 

Home Builders says soaring 

lumber prices caused 

MAINE 

High lumber prices ease: Here’s what it 

means for homeowners and homebuyers 

the price of an average 

new single-family home to 

increase by $35,872 this 

spring compared to spring 

2020. 

In another wrinkle, a 

Kansas builder says appraisers 

aren’t considering 

lumber prices in their 

analysis, and therefore are 

undervaluing homes. 

PulteGroup, one of the 

nation’s largest builders, 

says it expects to raise 

prices this year as it passes 

on the climbing cost of 

wood. “Driven primarily 

by increases in lumber and 

labor, our house costs will 

be higher in 2021,” Pulte- 

Group Chief Financial 

Officer Robert O’Shaughnessy 

said in a recent 

earnings call. 

Homebuilders aren’t the 

only buyers of lumber, of 

course. Homeowners renovating 

their houses also 

have diverted some of the 

supply by building fences, 

decks and additions. 

Lumber is just one factor 

in home prices 

Lumber prices 

finally are 

cooling a bit 

as lumber 

mills ramp up 

production 

to meet the 

frenzied 

demand. 

PHOTO | TRIBUNE NEWS 

SERVICE 

The dramatic rise in 

lumber prices has grabbed 

headlines in recent weeks. 

But wood costs are just one 

factor in the complicated 

equation behind home 

prices. 

The biggest factor is 

supply and demand. The 

U.S. population, and particularly 

the generational 

bulge of millennials entering 

their 30s and starting 

households, is growing 

faster than the number 

of homes available. That 

means that even as wood 

prices come back to earth, 

home prices are unlikely to 

follow. 

“Lumber is not the main 

reason why homes are 

unaffordable,” says Alex 

Barron of the Housing Research 

Center in El Paso, 

Texas. “It is the lack of 

resale supply — too many 

homes are still in the 

hands of landlords and 

investors. We had no land 

development after the 

crash for over a decade.”


MAINE 

EXIT KEY REAL ESTATE 

WE HAVE THE CORNER ON THE LAKEFRONT! 

20 Emery Mills Road Shapleigh, MAINE 04076 

207-636-2222 

www.exitkeyrealestate.com 

NEW LISTING 

Shapleigh, ME 

MLS 1499432 $549,900 

Nestled just in from the wide open expanse of 

Square Pond, this three bedroom ranch-style 

cottage has the best of all worlds. In addition 

to the cottage, there is a large storage shed for 

tools and toys, and an additional smaller shed 

right on the waterfront. 

NEW LISTING 

Acton, ME 

MLS 1499378 $439,900 

Beautiful Chalet on 2.5 acres located on a 

hill with seasonal views of Mousam Lake in 

Acton, Maine. Sit on the newly constructed 

composite deck and enjoy the breezes off the 

lake during the Summer months and overlook 

the perennial gardens. 

UNDER CONTRACT 

Acton, ME 

MLS 1495740 $669,000 

This charming lakefront home is nestled on 

the shore in a quiet section of Mousam Lake 

in Acton. Custom wood flooring in the kitchen, 

living room, dining room & bedrooms. 


Acton, ME 

MLS 1495307 $980,000 

If you have ever dreamed of living at the 

lake, with tons of privacy, then this home is 

your answer. At the end of the road, just up a 

wooded drive, this property is located on the 

shore of Mousam Lake, one of southern Maine’s 

most popular lakes. 

NEW LISTING 

Sanford, ME 

MLS 1500217 $399,900 

With much love and care from the current 

owners, this 2 bedroom, 3 bath home is located 

in the heart of Sanford, Maine. This home was 

thoughtfully designed with no details left out on 

a .27 acre lot with 2880 SF of living space. 


Newfield, ME 

MLS 1497210 $589,900 

Well-maintained property tucked away in a quiet 

cove on beautiful Balch Lake. With a spacious 

open concept living-dining-kitchen area plus 

two bedrooms and a full bath on the main level, 

you’ll have a beautiful view of the lake from 

almost any vantage point in the home. 

NEW LISTING 

Acton, ME 

MLS 1499382 $65,000 

Looking for a great place to build your 

vacation getaway or your dream home? Look 

no further. Wooded with a slope, this is a 

wonderful location! 

SOLD! 

Effingham, NH 

MLS 1489689 $239,900 

If you’re looking for privacy, located for easy 

traveling to North Conway, Wolfeboro, and 

Portland, Maine, not far from the lake Kayaking, 

swimming, or if you like golf Province’s golf 

course is only down the street. 

STING 


Newfield, ME 

MLS 1497578 $199,000 

Looking for a PROJECT? Look no further. Older 

mobile home with addition and open deck, 

right on the waterfront at popular Rock Have 

Lake. Easy driving distance from Portland, 

Maine, Portsmouth, NH and only two hours from 

downtown Boston! Sold AS IS, AS SHOWN, with 

no warranties. 

GREAT BUILDING LOT 

Parsonsfield, ME 

MLS 1488977 $42,500 

Looking to get away from the ‘’busy-ness’’ of 

city life and enjoy the quiet of country living? 

Then plan to build your dream home or weekend 

get-away on this wonderfully wooded lot. Only 

about two miles from public beach area on 

Province Lake. 

FABULOUS HOME 

Sanford, ME 

MLS 1492945 $899,900 

Custom-built Shingle Style home on the 

outskirts of the Village of Springvale. Appearing 

on the American scene between 1880 & 1900, 

the Shingle Style is distinctly American w/ 

its wood construction along w/ asymmetrical 

facades, gambrel roofs, balconies, welcoming 

verandas and large windows. 

GREAT INCOME POTENTIAL 

Sanford, ME 

MLS 1488992 $229,500 

Looking for an investment? Looking to live in 

one unit and rent the other? This property is 

located within a few steps from the center of 

the City of Sanford - right off of Main Street, 

in the heart of the city. 

NEW LISTING 

Shapleigh, NH 

MLS 1500190 $339,000 

This is NOT your typical Cape Cod-style home. 

Step inside and be prepared to experience 

the ‘feel’ of a real log cabin. With plenty of 

knotty pine ship-lap walls throughout, this 

home provides a coziness not available in 

traditionally-finished ‘blank walls’ of so many of 

today’s houses. 

BACK ON THE MARKET 

Waterboro, NH 

MLS 1490831 $87,500 

Level building lot, boasting 230’ gradual 

sandy bottom frontage on a quiet part of Lake 

Arrowhead - offers serenity, nature and some 

of the best bass fishing in all of Maine. Plan 

to ‘’put in’’ your kayak or canoe and enjoy the 

tranquility of lake life at its best. 


Ossipee, NH 

MLS 1491840 $49,500 

Beautifully crafted stone wall enhances this 

wooded lot, less than ten minutes from Route 

16 and five minutes from Route 28. Dug well 

is already in place, as is the electrical power. 

Expired septic design available for threebedroom 

home. 

SOLD! 

Acton, NH 

MLS 1492612 $239,900 

If you love nature’s beauty, come home to 

this Gambrel tucked in the woods just a few 

minutes from town. Offering 3 bedrooms, 

2 baths, Open Concept Kitchen and living room, 

partial finish basement.


MASSACHUSETTS 

#1 Listing and Selling 

Office in Saugus 

781-233-7300 

335 Central Street 

Saugus, MA 01906 

CarpenitoRealEstate.com 

SAUGUS 1st AD – RARE FIND — LAND in 

Saugus! GREAT OPPORTUNITY to build a new 

home! Street creating a unique opportunity to build 

new construction in convenient location. High on a 

hilltop creating lasting views and memories! 

$159,900 

SAUGUS 1st AD – EXTREMELY RARE 

Opportunity to develop TWO building lots! Lots 

are 32,000 sq ft and 22,600 sq ft. Land is located 

on future cul-de-sac. $175,000 

OPEN HOUSE 

WEDNESDAY 5-6 

SAUGUS 1st AD – Young CE Col offers 7 

rooms, 3 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, two gas fireplaces, 

hardwood flooring, beautiful kit w/marble countertops, 

master suite, deck, central air, fin lower 

level, MINT! $699,900 

LYNN 1st AD – THREE FAMILY offers 5/5/3 

rooms, 2/2/1 bedrooms, hardwood flooring, lots 

of updates, separate utilities, located withing 

walking distance of beach. Great opportunity! 

$659,000 

METHUEN 1st AD – IMPRESSIVE 6 room Villa at the Regency! 6 amazing rooms, 2 bedrooms, 

office, 2 baths, gourmet kitchen with granite counters, island seating, subway backsplash, stainless 

steel appliances and under counter lighting, open to great room with gas fireplace, wall of windows 

with atrium door to oversized deck with natural gas hook-up for grill and fire pit, formal dining room, 

master bedroom offers custom tray ceiling, private bath w/jacuzzi tub and separate shower, walk in 

closet, extra side window, hardwood flooring, convenient 1 st floor laundry, fantastic ceiling height, 

cen air, 2 c garage, unfinished lower level – great for finishing, heated pool, tennis, clubhouse w/gym, 

pickle ball, extradentary over 55 complex. 42 Sherwood Dr. $636,000 

REVERE 1st AD – PRIME BROADWAY 

location and visibility offers this great Retail 

condo store front with many possibilities. Located 

on bus line, within walking distance of neighborhoods. 

Great opportunity to invest and build your 

business. $600,000 

EVERETT – Well established Auto Body/Auto 

Repair shop, 6 bays, 3 offices, 2 half bath, ample 

parking, many possibilities, close to all major 

routes, public transportation and Encore Casino. 

$2,000,000 

SAUGUS 1st AD – Perfectly located, one-owner Center Entrance Colonial features 8 rooms, 4 

bedrooms, 2 full baths, spacious, fireplace living room, eat-in kitchen open to dining room and frontto-back, 

1st floor family room with slider to deck with trex flooring, hardwood flooring throughout, 

two car garage under with newer garage doors, large, level lot, located in desirable Howard Farms on 

great cul-de-sac. Come make this one your own! $699,900

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