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Houlton, ME Real Estate News

By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
     It's said some folks are born made for the profession they eventually settle in on, and maybe this early image holding a primitive early version mobile cell phone text device from Western Auto was the start of my real estate career.      In front of the home next door to where we lived before the move to the farm back in about October 1958 ready to text message news of a new neighborhood real estate listing on Franklin Avenue, Houlton Maine 04730. Or is that a graham cracker I'm holding? Anyway how you got in to the real estate industry, the turn of events that led up to the listing, marketing, selling property rodeo we all have several t-shirts from. You know, the ever changing profession involving marketing local ME real estate, the community it is located, and a little dash of o...
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By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
    My real estate office is 32 feet from my house on 69 North Street in Houlton Maine.And my neighbor Kim who moved here with her husband who is a US Border Patrol agent was a girl scout as a kid.     So from since we sold the family the home next door five years ago, the size of the local girl scout program increased five times!     Today a big truck arrives with pallets of girl scout cookies. Lots of them. The next door neighbor's garage was chalk full of boxes, more boxes of girl scout cookies.     And as the neighbor with connecting driveways, it has been like LAX airport with parents, little girls arriving to pick up boxes..big boxes of girl scout cookies.In and out and seemingly like the air drop in Haiti, boxes have quickly been put in to the distribution network. Car doors open...
Comments 6
By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
     Top three questions asked over and over about Houlton Maine from real estate buyers considering relocation here. One, tell me about your weather. Two, is it safe for raising a family here. Three, what about health care...do you have more than a band aid station. Extremely fortunate to have Houlton ME Regional Hospital serving the Southern Aroostook area. HRH has a motto of "Focused On Better Health" with a major push for decades on preventative health care. Education on medical conditions...to manage them or better yet, avoid them with lots of clinics, education.      I've gotten to know Houlton ME Regional's CEO Tom Moakler over the years at Rotary events. And other than being a died in the wool NY Yankees fan in the heart of Red Sox Nation, he is sharp. Not a bad tennis player ei...
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By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
Family. Everyone is from one. Some that are tight, close, solid. Other's that are spread in to the wind like wheat chaff. Not in touch, not caring to be. Fall out from past divorces or how the estate was diffied up. And someone got more or less than they should have. The grief of a death can test the strength, resolve of a family relationship dynamic. The institution is sacred and fragile at times in any family's ups and downs that happen right on schedule, right on time in anyone's life. I'm the youngest of four, riding high and handsome on my ten year senior brother's shoulders in this old photo. Life is good when you are part of a family. One that you have a distinct role in and that missing any member would affect the rest of that family. I grew up on a Maine potato farm and like my...
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By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
     In Maine, as winter snows melt, the rivers and streams swell to higher levels on their banks. Thoughts of getting on the Maine water, in a canoe, kayak formulate. Maine canoeing, kayaking to celebrate spring start to play on the mental projector. Don't wait until Friday night before the race you always take part in. You may have forgotten your brother Bob or one of your kids "borrowed" the water craft last. And it is not parked where you think. Look under that collection in the garage or over the shed and make sure you are ready.     Nearly 90 canoers, kayakers took part in last year's Houlton Maine river race on the Meduxnekeag. The Maliseet word for "rocks at its mouth". A river starting at Drews Lake, which actually is Meduxnekeag Lake but not one locally calls Drews that. Picki...
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By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
     You can not Priceline.com a cheaper price for a plane ticket to Houlton Maine. No matter how much coaxing, tutoring by Captain Kurk, you can not "go lower". Why? Smaller rural Maine airports don't have plane loads of folks streaming in multiple times per day.  The options for HUL Houlton Maine 04730 for commercial flights are to wander up the road 40 miles to PQI (Presque Isle Maine 04769). Or climb on  Interstate 95 for the under two hour drive to BGR (Bangor Maine 04401). Often, heading further south to (Portland Maine 04101) gets you that much closer to the major hubs. Which means less stops, shorter flights to wherever you are going. On family trips we have taken off from MHT (Manchester NH 03101) or BOS (Boston MA 02101) I know of a local attorney that goes across the Canadian...
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By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
     Here is the local Maine video on the 2009 Northern Maine Soap Box Derby race. Our local race was the largest in the country...not just Maine, for five years straight. Boys and girls with dad, mom, uncle Bob or your big brother/sister to help as Mr Goodwrench. Over 60 volunteers, many with no kids in the race show up year after year. To see the fright and then joy as "the thrill of the hill" gets in to the racer's system. As young racers pick up speed, holler, sing, hang on for dear life.      Our local Houlton Maine race is now run on a specially engineered hill, built along the specs of the one in Akron Ohio, the world series of down hill stock, superstock and master car racers. Kids from 8 to 17 can race derby cars and whole families make trips around the country in the rally rac...
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By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
     If you are a kid, on a Sunday during a snowstorm, thoughts begin to play in your head revolving around "Are we going to have snow cancelled tomorrow?" Snowstorms, plowing the white stuff, seeing folks shoveling out on the news makes you feel how? If you grow up in the North East, snow is something we look forward to, snowsled, ski on, enjoy sliding and everything else that comes with it. Ice fishing, snowsledding, hockey games, hot chocolate after snowshoeing in it. In Maine, snow fuels a 350 million dollar winter industry.      If you live in an area that does not get much snow, any snow, no matter how much is a big deal. Panic, unfamiliarity, confusion and even excitement as long as no one gets hurt. Frustration from cancelled flights, delays and postponed events cause a daily wr...
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By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
     When you live in Maine, practicing real estate sales, and are parked up against Canada to the east, the question is asked a lot. Can you sell property in Canada if you live in Maine? I am not licensed to list property in Canada. The province I happen to be parked up against is New Brunswick. But on the west side of Aroostook County and to the north, Quebec is the province close to Northern Maine real estate brokers. Canadian real estate brokers in border towns with the US get asked the same question.      I have been over the Houlton Maine, Canadian border four and five times a week when two of my boys played hockey. Nearly 99% of our games were with Canadian teams. With cross border traffic trips loaded with players, hockey equipment sometimes four games or more with tournaments, ...
Comments 9
By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
     Do you flash your Rolex, brag about your car, name drop about who you know, or what blue blood schools your kids attend? Getting noticed...do you dream of large homes with maids, staff and a garage full of cars designed to impress others? Think you are special, put on earth to be awed, sought after for advice and your presence?        Do you have an ego needing stroking? Have an attitude and need attention? Are you a gold digger? Do you want to live in a gated wealthy snobby community and is your life about money..only money?      Think you were always destined for greatness? You don't strive to keep up with the Jones...that you are the Jones.   Translation...You are NOT built for living in a Maine rural community.   Impressing others and having the latest material items is not wha...
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By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
The Houlton Maine Rotary Club has been busy with a series of planning meetings for the big April 8th 2nd annual bingo fund raiser. The rotary club would like you on board, and not to miss out.  The place for the event? St Anthony's Hall..in the St Mary's Catholic Church on Military Street here in Houlton ME 04730.      If you would like to be a game sponsor..the cost is $100 and your get your banner displayed at the event.      Your business featured on promotional signs and materials. The same brand logo featured on a sponsored bingo game for your company.       Your business will be recognized through the event. You can distribute business promotional materials at the evening Bingo hooplah which has a large attendance.      Watch last years first ever Houlton Maine Rotary Bingo Night ...
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By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
    My dad AKA Buppy was tail gunner in a B-24.And during the WW II early morning bomb run briefing, the nine guys in his crew were issued a survival kit of sorts. For use if the four engine Army Air Force bomber was forced to make a landing, or worse was shot down. In that leather pouch besides an ampule of morphine, the silk thread to sew your gash up yourself. Also packed in  to the mini survival kit was a chocolate bar for quick energy, a map of the area you army air corp member GI Joe was about to commence bombarding during daylight hours.Oh and some silver certificate currency. The kind of money with a blue seal so if the freedom fighter from behind enemy lines wonders if the money is any good, or will only help you with some bills with a dead US president on it for guaranteed pay...
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By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
Winter is a time when Mainers snowsled, snow shoe, cross country and down hill ski. Play pond hockey, watch games on the ice. This weekend in Houlton Maine is the annual winter celebration with free games, bonfires, snowsled light parade thru town, snowsled clubs breakfast, suppers and more. The Moose Is Loose in Houlton Maine. Check out the fun and games for the whole family in Southern Aroostook.  From February 5-7 ride in to Houlton Maine for the three days of fun, games and it's all free. To celebrate winter, one of our favorite four seasons. The family event was started in Loring Air Force Base and when Col Alan Bean mothballed the base as it's command, he became Houlton Maine's town manager. He brought the event with him and it is a habit, tradition growing larger and larger every...
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By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
     Drink your milk...and where are those cows from that made it? Do you know where your milk comes from where you live now? In Houlton Maine, we are lucky to enjoy milk from local cows happy in what they do. The milk products are as fresh as you can get because the dairy milk, butter, cottage cheese, sour cream, heavy cream, egg nog, ice cream is not trucked in to Houlton Maine from three states away. It was in the cow yesterday or this morning when you reach into your dairy case tonight on the way home from work. Skippers was a west coast fish restaurant that used the slogan, "The only fish fresher are still swimming in the sea". That's the way it is with our local milk. You can not get any fresher, or a higher quality standard.      In Houlton Maine we have been spoiled by Houlton F...
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By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
    The Maine Real Estate Information (MREIS) reports 24840 active listings on their server today. The Maine real estate market statistics show 1735 properties have a contract pending, with a buyer and seller waiting for a closing, satisfaction of contingencies like clear title, bank financing, possession. And only about a hundred other possible "sale depends on" to happen to get a clear to close. To turn the pending property sale in to a sold used by appraisers as evidence of what the market is doing as they put together valuation reports that reflect the current Maine real estate market.      Since New Years day, January 1st, 2010 1430 new Maine real estate listings have come on the market. And 365 Maine real estate closings have happened since the beginning of 2010.      Aroostook Co...
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By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
     Why wait until you are sixteen to drive a car? Downhill derby gravity racers where you and your son, daughter, nephew, neighbor study the course, talk about aerodynamics to make the car whiz by the crowd faster. Houton Maine's annual Northern ME race that started in 1996 had the honor for five years of being the largest derby event in the country. The stock, superstock and masters car racing event is held on a specially engineered derby hill designed to prepare racers for the Akron, Ohio Alll American Soap Box Derby Race held in late July each year. I have been past derby race director and lucky enough to have a son Alex and daughter Amanda win the largest local race and head to Akron two times. My job was Mr Goodwrench and 95% is the driver, their focus, consistency. We used to tr...
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By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
Winter is not a time for the blues, blahs or cabin fever.Bust out and enjoy the snowsledding options on over 13,000 miles of groomed trails.  Take a peek at last year's Moosestomper's Weekend celebration. The events of the winter celebration now held in Houlton Maine, was borrowed from a Loring Air Force Base in Limestone ME tradition.  When LAFB commander Alan Bean who mothballed the facility became the Houlton Maine town manager, he resurrected Moosestompers.     Kids hunt, dig, scramble for half dollars in snowpiles in different age classes, play in unique games like human curling, dog sled races.The Millar Civic Center opens the place for free public skating and free prizes.  Free horse sleigh rides, fireworks, bon fires, hockey tournaments, sliding on derby hill and a snowsled ligh...
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By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
Who is this Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers? Where did he come from, how did he get there, what is he all about? Your real estate story. Have you written it or better yet made a career real estate video verbatim without script or copy, off the cuff? Why not? You are in sales and excited about where you live correct? Tell Joe or Jane Surfer what you are passionate about where you live, why they should consider owning Maine real estate here too. In my case in Maine. Here's the real estate dog and pony show in 3 minutes on the dot. Looking forward to hearing your jouney, about your career path too. Houlton Maine is on the Canadian border at the beginning of Intersatate 95 Near Woodstock New Brunswick. US Rt 1, 2, 2A all crossroad and connect here in this town of roughly 10,000 friendly people....
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By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
     When you consider a mortgage on a home costing $329,900, whether the interest rate is a quarter percent either way is a big deal. But in Northern Maine when the mortgage you are shopping for is $32,900, whether the rate is a quarter percent higher or lower is not as critical as a banker thinks. For Houlton Maine financial options, there are six primary banks and a credit union on the local level. And at local Rotary meetings or about town, when you run in to a banker, they seem excited if the rate is an eighth of a percent lower than another bank. I explain that that slight difference alone does not cause a home mortgage borrower exodus from other bank lobbies to the fellow or lady with the "my rates lower than your banks" chant.      The closing costs charged, the turn around time...
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By Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573, Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker
(MOOERS REALTY)
Hockey players of all ages, all part of the Houlton Maine hockey program showed up. The December 26th alumni hockey games in the Shiretown were fun to watch.    Many of these players have skated together from the time they were five years old.     Most of the games in New Brunswick Canada when they were on the Southern Aroostook Minor Hockey Association teams. And then as a Houlton Hodgdon Blackhawks. Old time hockey reunion and entertaining action for the crowd of Houlton Maine fans, friends and family. Small town proud of the boys that made the program what it is, caused it to grow and were part of the spark of Northern Maine hockey. Here are a few images to capture the event. Just like old Maine high school hockey times with reliving past games not forgotten as Novices, Atoms, Peewee...
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