STOP BY AND SAY "HI"!

Today, we are busy, busy, busy...

getting ready for the 18th Annual

Androscoggin Business to Business Trade Show!

 

Join us Thursday, June 13th

at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee

in Lewiston for

Maine's largest business networking event!

 

 

- Drawing for a $100 gas card to J&S Oil

- Information on Apple Valley Condos

- Fontaine string bags (while they last)

- and Flat Brenda!

 

 

Make sure to come by booth 311 to say "Hi"!

 

Admission is free if you have a business card.

The show starts at 9:30am and goes to 5:30pm.

We will see you there!

 

We are always available for your real estate needs!

Call (207)784-3800 or e-mail us at

brenda@fontaineteam.com

FREE EVENT - TOUCH A TRUCK

Do you want something fun and FREE

to do with the family this weekend? 

 

Come Touch-A-Truck!

This Saturday, May 4th, the United Way of Androscoggin County

is holding the 3rd Annual Touch-a-Truck Event!

 

Come out and see fire trucks, police cars,

construction vehicles and the Fontaine moving van

 

 

as well as participate in a children's book swap

 and children's activities....

all for FREE! 

 

When:  Saturday, May 4th from 10am-1pm

Where: Central Maine Community College

 1250 Turner Street in Auburn

 

We hope to see you there!

 

Did you know that when you buy or sell with the Fontaine Team,

 you can use our moving van for free? 

Call us today to get your home sold or to find your dream home!

 

(207)784-3800

Update: 

Photos from Touch-A-Truck 2013

 

BACK TO SCHOOL

It's hard to believe, but it is time for

BACK TO SCHOOL

Bring on the buses, school lunches and homework!

Here are a few tips for making your Back to School season safe and worry-free...

1.  Plan your Route

     Make sure you plan the route your child will take to the bus stop

or to school if they are walking or riding a bike.  Practicing a few times

 before the first day of school will make the first day of school less stressful

for you and your child.

2.  Rules of the Road

     If your child is walking, even if it is just to the bus stop,

make sure they know to walk on the left side of the street facing traffic. 

Talk to them about where to cross the street if necessary and how to safely cross. 

     If you child is riding a bike, make sure they know to ride on the right side

of the street with traffic.  Talk to them about crossing the street with the light

 and watching for turning traffic.  Make sure they have a properly fitted helmet. 

3.  Bus Stop Safety

     Talk you your child about where to wait for the bus, waiting for the bus

to come to a complete stop before approaching it, and making sure

 they are crossing safely in front of the bus if they must cross the street

when getting off the bus. 

4.  Strangers

     Teach your child not to talk to or accept rides from strangers. 

Teach them if anyone approaches them that makes them uncomfortable

to yell loudly something like "This person is trying to take me"

and get away as quickly as possible to tell a trusted adult.  Let you child know

that adults who need help will usually ask another adult, not a child. 

5.  For the Adults

     You may need to leave a few extra minutes for your morning commute

to account for the school buses stopping. Watch for children around buses

or at crosswalks and walking or riding bikes to school. 

Have a safe and happy school year!

For tips about buying or selling Real Estate in Maine,

call Brenda at (207)784-3800 or e-mail brenda@fontaineteam.com.

WHAT'S SELLING IN LEWISTON/AUBURN?

Wow...have we been busy!

The summer market is hopping this year

in Lewiston/Auburn...so what is selling?

There were a total of 57 closed real estate sales in Lewiston/Auburn in July!

Average Sale Price $126,061

Highest Sale Price   $405,000

Lowest Sale Price    $ 16,500

47 Sales were on Residential Properties.

The average sale price on residential properties in July was $128,547.

9 Sales were Multi-family Properties.

4 - 2 units

3 - 3 units

2 - 4 units

Maybe buyers are purchasing 2 units, living in one unit and

renting the other to help pay the mortgage...not a bad idea!

The average sale price on multi-family properties in July was $125,253.

1 Piece of Land Sold.  The lot was listed at $21,900 and sold for $16,500. 

Fontaine Family - The Real Estate Leader sold 18 of their listings

 and closed 11 buyer sides in Lewiston/Auburn in July

for a total of 29 sides closed in July in Lewiston/Auburn!

If we can help with your real estate need, please call (207)784-3800

 or e-mail brenda@fontaineteam.com. 

MAINE AVERAGE HOME SALE PRICES 2012

Prices are rising.

Prices are still falling.

We have not yet seen the bottom of the market.

The market is rebounding.

 What is really going on in the Real Estate market in Maine?

So far this year (January 1st - June 12th) the average sale price for residential properties

in the State of Maine is $201,781. 

In 2011 during the same time frame the average sale price was $199,234.

Great news for Mainers...prices are rising - even if it is only slightly. 

More good news for Maine...more properties have sold so far this year than sold in the same time frame last year.  4,731 residential properties have sold in Maine so far in 2012. 

 Last year at this time only 4,148 residential properties had sold at this time. 

Within the state, however, average sale prices vary greatly. 

Prices vary even within the same county.  In Androscoggin County

the average residential sale price year-to-date in 2012 is $134,123. 

 In Minot the average is $210,400 and in Livermore Falls the average is $62,250. 

Both towns are in Androscoggin County about 30 miles apart! 

Average Residential Sale Prices in Androscoggin County 
2012 vs. 2011

(as of 6/12)

  City                    2012             2011

Auburn               $132,374      $116,352 

Durham              $167,215      $177,355

Greene                $146,746      $139,675

Leeds                  $140,066      $131,983

Lewiston             $115,677      $115,071

Lisbon                 $119,316      $116,759

Livermore             $81,585       $138,435

Livermore Falls    $62,250        $54,558

Mechanic Falls     $89,342       $100,305

Minot                   $210,400      $153,776

Poland                 $203,529      $195,140

Sabattus              $104,665        $98,650

Turner                 $153,611       $173,833

Wales                  $114,483       $128,125

What is the Average Sale Price in your County?

2012 vs. 2011 

(as of 6/12)

Residential Properties

             City                     2012            2011

Androscoggin    $134,123     $123,698

Aroostook            $85,795       $83,831

Cumberland      $259,322     $262,712

Franklin            $154,778     $161,914

Hancock           $213,527     $248,525

Kennebec          $141,598    $141,123

Knox                 $252,018    $270,244

Lincoln              $225,669    $194,614

Oxford               $137,487    $146,484

Penobscot          $126,411    $124,231

Piscataquis          $85,051    $124,231

Sagadahoc         $177,511    $182,632

Somerset              $92,805     $88,986

Waldo                $199,406    $192,388

Washington       $101,950    $112,936

York                  $259,819   $240,163

Are you interested in knowing more about

what homes like yours are selling for? 

Call Brenda at (207)784-3800 or

e-mail Brenda at brenda@fontaineteam.com

TIME TO BOOST YOUR CURB APPEAL

Summer is almost here

and that means the buyers are out and looking....

is your house ready? 

Have you paid any attention to your Curb Appeal? 

 The first impression of a potential buyer is crucial...

so here are some easy things you can do to boost your Curb Appeal...

1.  Routine Maintenance - mowing the lawn, weeding, trimming shrubs and making sure driveways and walkways are clear and clean seems like common sense, but you would be surprised how often I see houses listed for sale where the yard looks like a jungle.  If you let your yard go, it may give potential buyers the impression that other things have also been neglected. 

2.  Clean it Up - Put away the hose and toys and make sure the entry is free from spider webs and debris.  Tripping over toys or having a spider drop on your shoulder are sure turn offs for potential buyers.

3. Front Door - Painting your exterior doors is a pretty easy project that can make the front of your home pop - just don't go too crazy with the color! While you are at it...adding easily readable house numbers makes your home easy for potential buyers to find.

4. Lighten Up - Make sure your exterior lights look nice and are in working order.  Replace broken fixtures or burnt out bulbs.  Some buyers drive around to scope out potential homes in the evening...a well lit home will attract attention and a dark home will fade into the night.

5.  Pretty Plants - Add some life to your yard easily by adding a few pots of flowers to the front porch or freshening up your planting beds.  Fresh mulch can also make a huge difference.  

6.  Window Work - Wash your windows.   Chances are you don't realize how dirty they are, but a buyer will be looking closely.  Once your windows are clean, adding shutters and window boxes of flowers can add a lot of character without a huge expense.

7.  Mailbox Makeover -  Is your mailbox held onto the post with duct tape after a run-in with the plow this winter?  Now is the time to repair the post, make sure the mailbox is not rusted or covered with peeling paint. 

Homes with great curb appeal often sell quicker and for more money! 

 Boost your Curb Appeal and then get ready for the offers to roll in! 

Check out my Curb Appeal Pins on my Pinterest by clicking on the logo below...

 If you would like more information on how to sell your home faster and for more money, please call Fontaine Family - The Real Estate Leader on click the button below to send us an e-mail!

WHAT ABOUT DAYS ON THE MARKET?

If you are considering selling your property

or if you have your property on the market...

 you should know about Days on the Market.

Do you know the average DOM (days on market) in your area? 

The amount of time it takes property to sell varies from area to area so the amount of time it usually takes to sell in Androscoggin County is different from the amount of time it usually take to sell in Oxford County.   In 2011 the average time a residential property spent on the market before it sold in Androscoggin County was 127 days.  In Oxford County the average time was 196 days.  That is a 2 month difference!


Do you know the average DOM in your area for the Real Estate Agent you are considering or who has your property listed?  

There are a lot of factors that go into the amount of time a home spends on the market. The condition of the property, staging, location and pricing are a few factors that could make a difference.   Obviously you can't change the location of your property, but a good Real Estate agent will advise you of what you can do to get your property sold in the least amount of time.  

Why is selling quickly so important?

Fresh inventory sells for Top Dollar...stale inventory gets discounted.  The longer a property sits on the market, the better the chances of having to reduce the price to get an offer.  If buyers see that a property has been on the market longer than other properties, they start to think something must be wrong with it.  After all, if is was such a good deal, someone else would have purchased it.   

Do you want to work with an agent who has a history of getting property sold in less time

 or who has a history of taking longer to sell a property? 

If you are interested in knowing more about the average Days on Market in your area,

call us at (207)784-3800 or click the button below to e-mail us!

FUN FACTS ABOUT MAINE REAL ESTATE IN 2011

Since 2011 is coming to an end, we thought we would share some fun facts about the Maine real estate market this past year! 

State of Maine

10,888 residential properties have sold so far this year.

The average sale price of those properties was $206,709.

The highest price a Maine residential property sold for in 2011 was $12,250,000!

(It sold in 193 days.)

The average time the homes spent on the market was 152 days.

The longest time one of these properties spent on the market before it sold was 1,954 days...

 That's over 5 years!  (It was listed in 2006.)

Androscoggin County

680 residential properties have sold in Androscoggin County so far this year.

The average sale price of those properties was $130,271.

The highest sale price was $510,000 for a waterfront property in Poland.

The average time they spent on the market was 129 days.

Fontaine Family Teams average time on market for Androscoggin County is 99 days!

Cumberland County

2,884 residential properties have sold in Cumberland County so far in 2011.

The average sale price of those properties was $268,182. 

 (More than double the average sale price in Androscoggin County)

The highest sale price was $4,200,000.

30 residential properties sold for over $1,000,000.

The average time homes that sold spent on the market was 113 days.

Kennebec County

888 residential properties have sold in Kennebec County so far this year.

The average sale price for these properties was $143,860.

The highest sale price was $863,000.  It was on the market for 1,038 days - almost 3 years!

The average time residential properties spent on the market before they sold was 151 days.

Oxford County

463 residential properties have sold in Oxford County year to date.

The average sale price of the sold homes was $153,013. 

The highest sale price was $1,015,000 for a waterfront home in Oxford on over 5 acres. 

It sold in 83 days!

The average time these properties spent on the market was 193 days.

Sagadahoc County

290 residential properties have sold in Sagadahoc County so far this year.

The average sale price of those properties was $183,700.

The highest sale price was $945,000 for a waterfront home in West Bath that sold in 16 days!

The average time residential properties spent on the market before they sold was 114 days. 

Here's hoping for a strong finish to 2011!

In 2010, 905 residential properties sold in Maine during the month of November

 at an average sale price of $218,345 in an average of 161 days.

This November 998 residential properties sold at an average sale price of $211,249

in an average of 154 days.

And looking forward to a great 2012!

*Information from Maine Real Estate Information Systems as of 11/14/2011

WHAT ARE HOME BUYERS PURCHASING IN ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY?

Regardless of what we hear on the news reports, homes in Androscoggin County are still selling!  

So just what are home buyers looking for?  According to information taken from the Maine Real Estate Information System,  in the past 6 months (from 3/30/2011 - 9/28/2011) 367 single family properties have sold in Androscoggin County. 

Price still seems to be the motivating factor for buyers.  Over 1/2 of the single family residential homes that have sold in Androscoggin County over the past 6 months were priced below $150,000.  Buyers for homes priced over $175,000 drop off considerably. 



Information taken from Maine Real Estate Information Systems

For buyers, it is a great time to buy!  Prices have come down and there is a lot of inventory.  For sellers, your best bet is to price your property aggressively and make sure you are working with a real estate agent who will market your home aggressively.  Homes that are priced well are selling quickly!

Click here to view Androscoggin County listings under $150,000