REALTOR Andrew Mooers' Maine Real Estate Blog

A few days back, posted a blog pondering the many careers agents, brokers and associatied real estate industry types on board here has BEFORE entering the fast paced, people pleasing job of deadlines, negotiations, and marketing of real estate.  From emails I got, many were teachers first due to getting the little ones raised as priority one, and others were bankers that got tired of sliding those big checks with all the zero's in them across the table.  Wondered if any were in a previous life lawyers, clergy, dentist or funeral directors.  Thought it might make for some interesting paths along the way of becoming Joe and Josephine Broker type.  But maybe from many rainer's earliest recollections, they were born, destined and raring to become agents...and never had another inkling to do anything else in life.  Were you put on the earth to be a broker from the get go?  Did you start out in real estate but the commission up and down and uncertainty with your fix expenses cause you to retreat and return during a better market cycle? Sit a spell at the keyboard and hammer out your story next time you struggle to provide some interesting reading for all of us.  I think you will see some similiar lines of life's turns and twists that made us wander down similiar paths.  Oh...and say hi to Mr Maine Black Bear.  He is won of the few I've seen with out jelly donut on his hide.  These black bears are not very social and hard to find but are known to not be able to resist a jelley filled donut.  I know I know..how could you hunt Yogi...I don't but like to take pictures of them.  Shoot with a camera.  This little fella was made a trophy by one seller we dealth with a few years ago.  Talk about scaring the heck out of the little ones when we showed them into the den he was in.  Big eyes when little Jimmy came around the corner and Voila...here is Blackie!  Usually a quick retreat to mom and dad until they realized he was not alive!  The owner was not fond of having to put him down but after repeatedly getting into the garage, the garbage and making a pest of himself he said he had no choice to keep his other half happy.

     In the 1960's there was a major movement for "back to the landers", or affectionately nicknamed "granolas" to the Northeast.  Carrying new issues of Mother Earth News, brochures on Yurts (canvass covered goat hair wrapping for exterior of their new house) a couple with often a row of little ones in similiar coveralls and Mr Green Jeans clothing would seek a piece of land to farmstead or homestead on.  Many locals would stratch their heads but had to admit these folks were friendly, a little naive but on the right track to eat right, live right and who were not afraid of working the land to create a living, shelter and food for their families. 

     Heating with wood, and not wanting to be on the grid to protect the neighborhood from too many new neighbors, these folks started food co-ops, grew organic produce, and lived a simple, humble lifestyle heating with wood.  Not wanting to set the world on fire, they escaped urban areas or rural areas on the fridge of exploding with building to trek north.  Strout Realty was a company started by a Maine man E.A. Strout who had a notion back in 1900 that folks lived in the cities, and flocked there for jobs when farming was not panning out, but in the back of their heads...many wanted to come back and give it another try once better bank rolled.  He was right..all the  Strout offices around the country peddled rural property...you would not see a Strout office in downtown LA...but in Maine alone there were 25 offices.  Run by average, honest salt of the earth folks that helped sell the rural way of life "All Across America".  In the 1950's there were 2000 Strout offices...the hoola hoop was big, drive in theatres the rage, Elvis excited or angers many.  This was before the plethora of franchises like Century 21, Coldwell Banker, etc.

     There is a strong sense of having your own 40 acres to be self sufficient.  This longing is based on a number of factors.  Back in the 1800's 96% of us were farmers! Small farms were the back bone of the country...feeding the nation, teaching work ethic and how to make things last because there was never much money floating around to just run out and replace it.  Kick the can and heading to the lake after chores was enough to entertain and create contentment.  Heck, you were happy to just be done working for the day. Early to bed as up with the crows to milk the cows, start the chores again.  You saw your family thru out the day other than being at school because everyone had a role working on the farm so you could make a living to stay on the farm that may have been in your family for three generations or more. The farming lifestyle is in our genes from not so long ago.  Now larger farms with monstrous equipment and automation have taken over due to smaller profits and need for agri-businessman to keep the operation in the black.  Foreign imports of food...new eating habits with fast food and quick prepare meals coming into vogue.  Years ago on the farm life was simpler because no money to make it anything different.  You had to fix what broke or learned to go without what you could not afford. There was no extra money.  Some would say we were poor but did not know it.  We were all the same.  Well fed, mom knitted mittens and canned, dad and the boys chopped and stacked wood. You had what you needed...a filled belly, warm place to sleep, warm homemade clothes and lots of love from knowing you were a vital part of the family...you were needed, you had a role no matter what your age.  No one was spoiled...there was not extra money to lavish with...and with 11, 12 or 15 family members...no one got too much of anything...it was spread around to all the children under the roof.

Some of the granolas had the right idea but the life was too hard and they had been spoiled with earlier glimpses and knowlege of an alternative life with power, luxuries and machines to do some of the labor for us. These folks washed out.  Some made it work if they were determined and hardworking enough.  And some granolas became yuppies...growing organic produce and not trying to sell it at the local farmer's market alone.  Heck no...with the internet..you can now have a nifty web site to promote the produce or product that is home grown and you sell a serving for eight...not a 50 pound bag of potatoes.  You can ship them with the UPS brown truck cruising in daily to intercept the package rather than loading a trailer truck or like back in the 40's, 50's and early 60's growing a train car load of produce destined for the markets.  Someone in Manhattan is having dinner guests this Friday night and for $48.50 they can have shipped to them baby Maine carrots and red pontiac potatoes for their four guests.  Money is not an object..the time frame of "can we have it by Friday"..a few days away is the only concern. 

Consider the simpler, healthy lifestyle...are you ready for a change? Above http://www.motherearthnews.com/

Or visit a Northern Maine place for organic food that is an experience located in TD R2 West of Bridgewater Maine in Aroostook County. http://www.woodprairie.com

In the 1960's there was a major movement for "back to the landers", or affectionately nicknamed "granolas" to the Northeast.  Carrying new issues of Mother Earth News, brochures on Yurts (canvass covered goat hair wrapping for exterior of their new house) a couple with often a row of little ones in similiar coveralls and Mr Green Jeans clothing would seek a piece of land to farmstead or homestead on.  Many locals would stratch their heads but had to admit these folks were friendly, a little naive but on the right track to eat right, live right and who were not afraid of working the land to create a living, shelter and food for their families. 

Heating with wood, and not wanting to be on the grid to protect the neighborhood from too many new neighbors, these folks started food co-ops, grew organic produce, and lived a simple, humble lifestyle heating with wood.  Not wanting to set the world on fire, they escaped urban areas or rural areas on the fridge of exploding with building to trek north.  Strout Realty was a company started by a Maine man E.A. Strout who had a notion back in 1900 that folks lived in the cities, and flocked there for jobs when farming was not panning out, but in the back of their heads...many wanted to come back and give it another try once better bank rolled.  He was right..all the  Strout offices around the country peddled rural property...you would not see a Strout office in downtown LA...but in Maine alone there were 25 offices.  Run by average, honest salt of the earth folks that helped sell the rural way of life "All Across America".  In the 1950's there were 2000 Strout offices...the hoola hoop was big, drive in theatres the rage, Elvis excited or angers many.  This was before the plethora of franchises like Century 21, Coldwell Banker, etc.

There is a strong sense of having your own 40 acres to be self sufficient.  This longing is based on a number of factors.  Back in the 1800's 96% of us were farmers! Small farms were the back bone of the country...feeding the nation, teaching work ethic and how to make things last because there was never much money floating around to just run out and replace it.  Kick the can and heading to the lake after chores was enough to entertain and create contentment.  Heck, you were happy to just be done working for the day. Early to bed as up with the crows to milk the cows, start the chores again.  You saw your family thru out the day other than being at school because everyone had a role working on the farm so you could make a living to stay on the farm that may have been in your family for three generations or more. The farming lifestyle is in our genes from not so long ago.  Now larger farms with monstrous equipment and automation have taken over due to smaller profits and need for agri-businessman to keep the operation in the black.  Foreign imports of food...new eating habits with fast food and quick prepare meals coming into vogue.  Years ago on the farm life was simpler because no money to make it anything different.  You had to fix what broke or learned to go without what you could not afford. There was no extra money.  Some would say we were poor but did not know it.  We were all the same.  Well fed, mom knitted mittens and canned, dad and the boys chopped and stacked wood. You had what you needed...a filled belly, warm place to sleep, warm homemade clothes and lots of love from knowing you were a vital part of the family...you were needed, you had a role no matter what your age.  No one was spoiled...there was not extra money to lavish with...and with 11, 12 or 15 family members...no one got too much of anything...it was spread around to all the children under the roof.

Some of the granolas had the right idea but the life was too hard and they had been spoiled with earlier glimpses and knowlege of an alternative life with power, luxuries and machines to do some of the labor for us. These folks washed out.  Some made it work if they were determined and hardworking enough.  And some granolas became yuppies...growing organic produce and not trying to sell it at the local farmer's market alone.  Heck no...with the internet..you can now have a nifty web site to promote the produce or product that is home grown and you sell a serving for eight...not a 50 pound bag of potatoes.  You can ship them with the UPS brown truck cruising in daily to intercept the package rather than loading a trailer truck or like back in the 40's, 50's and early 60's growing a train car load of produce destined for the markets.  Someone in Manhattan is having dinner guests this Friday night and for $48.50 they can have shipped to them baby Maine carrots and red pontiac potatoes for their four guests.  Money is not an object..the time frame of "can we have it by Friday"..a few days away is the only concern. 

Consider the simpler, healthy lifestyle...are you ready for a change? www.motherearthnews.com

Done! Various Acreage Options To Purchase! 10 Acres & Home! $149,900!

       It's has won awards and whoever the webmaster is on the state level, it is a corker.  Full of info, easy to use, designed to load fast as lightning on a Commodore 64 with 14.4 dial up. EVERYTHING is in there from meet the governor, to get a job to how to get a vanity plate or a fishing license. Maps, weather, demographics, education..it is in there from soup to nuts, A-Z. Visit www.maine.gov for everything in the Pine tree State known as "Vacationland"!

When you are parked up here in the right hand corner of the country, no one bothers you, you don't get the attention some parts of america do but like it that way.  Low key, friendly, nothing really gets us too bent out of shape.  Take it all in stride.  That's why when the talk talk talk about the bubble bursting...how awful sales are in some sections...none of that applies to many rural areas like Northern Maine.  Our prices are so much lower for starters.  You don't get foreclosed on with a $39,000 mortgage as the payment is cheaper than rent.  We don't see a home that sold last year for $65,000 with fireplace, 1.5 baths and double garage suddenly sell for $165,000.  Folks build if there is a shortage in one category...but they don't ker-plunk another $100,000 cause they have to have it or due to a build up pressure on shortage of inventory.  We stay in balance. The marketing time could extend but we don't get blistering hot or subartic cold market wise.  We just chug along..and warm up a little when things are really going gang busters in southern new england and beyond.  Telecomuting with high speed internet makes these small town sections of Maine really popular too!  You can bring the same paying job and suddenly everything you know, divide by three for expenses.  Value, small town sense of community, super spot for all ages to grow up and enjoy life in! You get so much more home for the money and many of the victorians are homes that the new owners could not afford in their lifetime if they had stayed in the city.  Here, there are affordable because not a stampede of buyers and local wages are lower and spending for housing tied to the wage scale. Get more for less. And at tax time, you find yourself in a lower tax bracket but with money left over for luxuries like gas, groceries, clothing...medicine!

$124,900! That's Right! Ask for more images to be emailed to you! info@mooersrealty.com

Or visit for area in www.mooersrealty.com/discover.htm

A few of us at the age of seven may have day dreamed while eating an ice cream by the creek in the sun of a summer day with feet dangling in the water from the small country road bridge while our dog panted and looked longingly for a bite of the frozen milk product...while fishing for brook trout after just getting over the red measles and two weeks before we got our new 5 speed banana bike with our money saved from birthdays, christmas and working mowing a lawn of a family friend....that some day, some day this lad would want to list, sell and become a professional realtor.  I was not one of those at this stage of the game in my life...(sorry...to build up to a logical point that suddenly veered left on you there).  However, the road taken early on had a bearing on why suddenly I have a realtor pin on the jacket I wear each day.  As a teenager, I loved music...and spinning records at the local radio station owned by Howdie Doody...Buffalo Bob to his close friends.  From there, during college at the University of Maine at Orono worked full time in summer/vacations at WLBZ, WABI and finally WZON radio station that is owned by Horror writer but all around nice guy Stephen King.  By college graduation, it became apparent that moving out of Maine was the next logical step to heading up the broadcasting ladder.  Two assumptions suddenly are made...you are good enough to keep heading into a high ranked, larger market and two you want to raise your kids outside of Maine.  Had not thought about the kids, marriage and where to live part of the becoming Dick Clark some day down the road. Brakes come on at this point...smell the rubber burning?

Raising a family in Maine is peachy keen notion as 4th lowest crime state and on a number of criteria Maine has come up as one of the best places to live, work and play on the planet for quality of life.  However, broadcasting is a training ground in Maine so you have to decide you can live on minimum wage or work all the time doing record hops or go into radio ad sales arena wearing jackets like Herb Tarlick  (is that how you spell his name ?...Never saw it in print.)  Anyway...stay focused.  The announcing and ad production work helped on the technical side of video production, audio  tracks and the ability to sit before a large audience and attempt to make them feel you were talking to one on one as they head to the dump with their garbage or putter around their kitchen with you in the back ground.  Worked for one person in particular at Z-62 named Humble But None The Less Might John Marshall.  His middle name was C and it stood for cash. His bible of on air procedure included lots of gems that spill into real estate day to day application.  We are dealing with the public on every level in what we do right?  Rule number one...don't complain, don't wine, don't tell your listener how awful you feel or bore them with your troubles.  You are there to entertain, think of what you are saying as the song winds down and keep it simple.  Entertain, be light and bright and keep the music moving.  Help them smile and laugh if you have a sense of humor.  No dead air...space between song/commerical, etc.  We got fined 25 cents a second for dead air.  Keep the conveyor moving...do the community bulletin board, answer that phone, do requests, play the ads  but never stop the show with a complaint or lag.  Think of the listener.  If it was a storm don't tell them, another program director warned us named George Hale, not to go out.  The station had advertisers paying to get the word out on the big 300% reduction sale ...so just because announcer  boy thought it would be a good night to stay off the snowy, blowing wintry roads...don't issue that suggestion unless the state police had called and made the ultimatum necessary to report.  Tell the listener to drive with care, allow a little more time to get to Joe's Big Blow Out Sale where you had to remember to bring ropes and tarps cause you were not leaving the store without a lot of loot you could not live without.  But do not tell them to stay home...it defeated the whole ad campaign of Joe's...don't let a little nasty weather get in the way of his profit margin for the week.

Are you an entertainer...as you work at Country 22 Real Estate ...do you make the process fun, are your thinking customer customer customer or do you lean on the prospect with boring details of how lousy your life is going? Or how difficult your jobs is, etc. They have therapist for that.  This customer is not paid or desiring to be dumped on. He/she has a mission to get housing, a piece of land for recreation, etc.  Or they need to sell pronto. No time for the human interest drama of your life at the moment.   You have to be the sensitive one...the customer is not there to help you do your job...you are a hired gun to perform a mission they came to you in the first place to take on for them.  Read your script, study your role. Friendships and sharing troublesome dips in the road may come about if a relationship/friendship develops after the sale but for the meantime, remember what you are hired to do. Keep the songs spinning, stay on track and think about your evolution of how and why you got into real estate.  It was not just because you needed a job or the money.  You are passionate and full of vim and vigor on what you do right?  If you are not...if you lack fire in your belly on your profession, maybe a career change is needed or move into a different branch of real estate.