North Mowing in Springfield Vermont on approximately 230 acres offers complete privacy and historic charm

Each LandVest listing is more than real estate, it is the realization of a vision of property owners, often over centuries. One such property is North Mowing, in Springfield Vermont. Set at the end of a ¾ mile drive on 230 acres the property has superb views of Mount Ascutney. This beautifully renovated c. 1795 expanded main house, guest house, barns and outbuildings are set around a series of terraced gardens. The original farm was romantically expanded by Horace Brown, a prominent Vermonter and landscape painter during the heyday of the Art Colony in Cornish, NH, whose most notable members were Maxfield Parrish and Augustus Saint- Gaudens as well as Ellen Biddle Shipman, the landscape architect of North Mowing.

Dry stone terrace designed by eminent early 20th century landscape architect, Ellen Biddle Shipman

The current owners, international manufacturers and marketers of garden ornaments, restored the property as a labor of love and as a family retreat. They loved the sense of history and romance of the property, and the scale of the big views.  Since Springfield is not as well known as nearby Woodstock and Ludlow, we asked the owner to tell why they like Springfield:

“Location, location, location – it is very convenient to 91 – just that much closer to NYC than Woodstock and further north. It is a very central location to get to a number of places in about 20 minutes or so – near Woodstock, Quechee, Okemo, Ascutney, Grafton and quite near Chester which is very sweet. The Weathersfield Inn has excellent gourmet dining – about 10 minutes away. Even Dartmouth is not that far away – One of the Browns lived at North Mowing and taught there. We always get fresh meat at Lisai’s in Chester which is about 10 minutes away and a pretty drive.

Family Room features dramatic stone fireplace surrounded by raised panel cabinets, oak floors and built-in seating under the stairs

Guest house with one bedroom, kitchen, bath and fireplaced living room is light, bright and completely renovated

As to Springfield itself – chartered in 1761 and home to the oldest one room school house in Vermont. Springfield prospered from the machine tool industry. It was a prime target for German sabotage in WWII. Of course, as manufacturing moved overseas Springfield suffered. But it is reinventing itself. The tool works along the river into town are being developed now into professional offices. There is a good hospital in Springfield close to the house. The movie theater has been restored and reopened – Historic Preservation magazine featured the restoration of its Art Deco facade. Springfield also did not suffer in the recent floods because of a water management system in the river in town. While the shopping center may not inspire raptures about quaint New England, it is only 5 minutes away if you need anything.  It is so much more convenient than a 20 minute drive for milk or the newspaper. Roll into town and you can easily stop there for supplies. It is a nice market as well – seems to me much nicer than the one I remember in Woodstock – good fresh produce etc. There is also a pharmacy there. All in all very convenient.

Convenient and private location with views to Mount Ascutney

North Mowing though is a world unto itself – beautiful views and a ¾ mile driveway. Fantastic stone walls, terraces and outbuildings configured more like a little village. The interiors of the guest house and map house are full of charming details. Moreover each of these buildings and studio have working fireplaces! It is a gardener’s delight. There is a book in the house about the eminent landscape designer, Ellen Shipman. Her client, Horace Brown was one of the heirs to the Spaulding Sporting Goods fortune and a noted artist in his own right.  The property figured often in his work – it is his particular color scheme and configuration that we restored. Note that the property originally went right down to the river but the Browns donated it to the town to build the school.”

Great properties like North Mowing have their particular magic. For more information on Vermont Farms or Woodstock Area Properties for Sale, please contact Jon Weber or Ruth Kennedy Sudduth.  North Mowing was featured as our first stop off I-91 in our Vermont Farm Tour blog (click on link for more) the first of more to come.

Brunswick & Harpswell are neighboring towns in Cumberland County along the Casco Bay in the Gulf of Maine. Scenic and historic they also have a thriving arts and cultural scene inspired by their coastal charm.  Accolades for this area have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Where to Retire Magazine and MSN’s House & Home. Most recently, based on a search of cultural assets in towns with populations under 25,000, the Smithsonian Magazine recognized Brunswick, Maine as one of the best small towns in America.

LandVest, the recognized leader for Maine real estate, waterfront homes and estates throughout New England, offers three exceptional properties in Harpswell, just 8 miles from Brunswick:

Click here to read Smithsonian’s article about Brunswick.

For more information on Maine Real Estate for sale in the Portland, Maine and surrounding area contact William Davisson at wdavisson@landvest.com or click for William Davisson’s contact information.

Spring is a lovely time to explore real estate for sale along the quiet roads of Vermont. Driving up from Connecticut or New York, the two closest farms we have for sale in the Upper Valley near Woodstock, Vermont, are “North Mowing” and “Stonebridge Farm“.

North Mowing combines Vermont vernacular with artistic style in its 230± private hilltop acres

North Mowing is located a short hop off I-91 in Springfield, Vermont. This is a soulful property – probably because it has been owned by many generations of artists. It has what you would expect in a great Vermont property – the long private drive, the huge hilltop location with mountain views, the perfectly restored classic farm buildings, guest house and refined interior finishes. What makes it really special is the artistic sensibility of the place, each view comes  from  a sophisticated  painterly  eye. The original farmstead  was a centerpiece of the distinguished Connecticut Valley artist community that included August Saint-Gaudens in the last 19th century.

Horace Brown, a well-regarded landscape artist and pillar of the Vermont State Senate, engaged Ellen Biddle Shipman, the designer of the Saint-Gaudens landscapes, to design a series of dry stone terraced gardens to connect the buildings with the landscape. This artistic community was very tuned into “sense of place” and Shipman integrated a classically-trained aesthetic into the Vermont vernacular farmstead. The current owners, themselves landscape design professionals, have combined the historic and timeless feel of the place.  With the outdoor terraces, open floor plans and plenty of sleeping quarters, North Mowing is warm and inviting for friends and family.

Stonebridge Farm is a peaceful country retreat minutes from Dartmouth College, theatre and restaurants

Just up I-91 in Norwich, Vermont, across the river from Dartmouth College and the lively community of Hanover, New Hampshire, is Stonebridge Farm. This is a more intimately scaled property, with a comfortable feel, but similarly clean-lined and carefully updated. Here the farmhouse and giant bank barn sit in a dell next to a swimming pond, with valley views across to the New Hampshire mountains. It is the perfect bucolic farm setting in a quiet rural neighborhood with shared trails through conserved land, minutes from Hanover, the theatre, restaurants and shops. It can be intimate for a couple or absorb a crowd of kids running rampant between the converted barn that serves as a pool and game house to the stone diving rock into the pond. If horses are part of the mix, the outdoor arena has the best views on the property, and the equestrian amenities, barn and turnouts are beautifully practical.

Check back with the LandVest blog, as we go to our next stops on the tour, farms for sale in Woodstock, Vermont

This blog was brought to you by Jon Weber and Story Jenks of LandVest’s Woodstock, Vermont office, and by Ruth Kennedy Sudduth, Director of LandVest’s Residential Brokerage Division. For more information on wonderful Vermont real estate, equestrian properties, farms and Woodstock, Vermont homes for sale, please contact any one of us.

Middlesex County, Massachusetts, is the most populous county in New England and is located west and northwest of Boston. It contains some of the wealthier towns in Massachusetts and was recently ranked 10th in the country in terms of the number of millionaires. It includes urban, suburban, and rural areas reaching from urban Cambridge, home to Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to the New Hampshire border. Within Route 95/128, towns with high-end real estate include Belmont with its attractive historic Belmont Hill section; Lexington of Revolutionary War fame; Newton particularly the Chestnut Hill area and home to Boston College; and Winchester with wonderful vistas across the Mystic Lakes. Between Route 95/128 and Route 495, along the Route 2 and Route 20 corridors, Carlisle, Concord, Lincoln, Sudbury, Wayland, and Weston are small historic towns that have maintained a sense of their rural past. Sherborn is an anomaly linked more to the neighboring equestrian towns of Dover and Medfield in Norfolk County. Outside Route 495, Groton is notable for its early 19th century architecture, substantial farm land, and two highly-regarded boarding schools: Groton School and Lawrence Academy.

Active Listings and Sales, $2,000,000+, First Quarter, 2012

In Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the first quarter  of 2012 the inventory of high-end listings grew slightly compared to last year at this time (136 vs. 130 listings in Q1 2011 and a peak of 174 in Q1 2006).  First quarter high-end sales contracted substantially to 15 sales compared to nearly record levels in 2011 (23 sales) and compared to the peak in 2005 (24 sales) and 2007 (23 sales). The first quarter of 2011 started off more strongly than 2010 and several record sales set an optimistic tone. Unfortunately, the middle of the year lagged and fell behind in the last quarter of 2011 with 77 sales for the year vs. 81 for 2010.

Highest and Average Sale, $2,000,000+, First Quarter, 2012

First quarter sale prices peaked in 2005 to 2007 at the $6,000,000 to $7,000,000 level and there was an exceptional $15,600,000 sales in the first quater of 2011. In 2012, the top first quarter sale was LandVest’s sale of the Great Meadows estate in Concord for $5,264,699. Average first quarter sales prices have been generally more stable in the range of $2,400,000 to $2,900,000 over the past 10 years. In the first quarter of 2012 the average sale price was $2,928,195.

Days on Market, Sales, $2,000,000+, First Quarter, 2012

Days on market for first quarter high-end sales have varied dramatically over the past 10 years. Average days on market for Q1 2012 were 144 vs. 197 in 2011, 139 in 2010, and 308 in 2009. The average days on market for the first quarter over the period 2000-2012 is 184. Despite the continued uncertainty in the market, special properties expertly presented and well priced are selling.

Sales by Town, $2,000,000+, First Quarter, 2012

Seven of the 54 cities and towns in Middlesex County Massachusetts had high-end sales in the first quarter of 2012. Weston was the leader with 6 sales followed by Cambridge(3), Concord (2), Lexington (1), Newton (1), Wayland (1),and Winchester (1). For first quarter sales over the period2000-2012, the leaders are Newton (50), Weston (48), Cambridge (36), Concord (18),and Lexington (15).

This post was brought to you by Stewart Young (syoung@landvest.com). Whether it’s an elegant Greek Revival in Lincoln, a 130 acre farm in Medfield, or a waterfront summer estate on Stage Harbor in Chatham, Stewart advises buyers and sellers of some of the most distinctive properties in Massachusetts with a focus on Cape Cod, and the Metro West area of Boston. View Stewart’s current Real Estate listings.

For additional information about LandVest’s real estate consulting, appraisal, and brokerage services, please contact: Ruth Kennedy Sudduth.

The LandVest High-End Market Watch is a periodic review of select high-end markets in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and the Adirondacks. Market data is collected from Multiple Listing Services and does not include private listings. LandVest makes no representation as to the accuracy of the data and therefore is not responsible for any actions taken as a result of use of or reliance on this information.

Cape Cod is internationally famous as a summer resort area and is increasingly popular for retirement living. It features miles of beaches, natural attractions, historic sites, art galleries, and four star restaurants and hotels. Outdoor activities include world class yachting, coastal and deep-sea fishing, numerous public and private golf courses, and a wide variety of other informal summer sports. The Cape is just 75 miles from Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts and T.F. Green Airport in Providence, Rhode Island.  Executive jet services are available at the Hyannis airport and there are several other smaller airports.  Cape Cod is divided into four regions: Upper Cape, Mid Cape, Lower Cape, and Outer Cape, each including several towns and villages. Upper Cape towns include Bourne, Sandwich, Falmouth, and Mashpee. Mid Cape towns include Barnstable, Dennis, and Yarmouth. Lower Cape towns include Harwich, Brewster, Chatham, and Orleans. Outer Cape towns include Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown.

Active Listings and Sales, $2,000,000+, First Quarter, 2012

On Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the first quarter 2012 inventory of high-end listings grew as expected to 224 compared to 191 at year end 2011, but not as high as the record level of 235 listings in the first quarter 2011.  First quarter high-end sales increased significantly to 13 from 6 in the first quarter of 2011. The peak for first quarter sales was 23 sales in 2008.  Year end 2011 sales were down 10% from 2010, with exceptionally slow second and third quarters. LandVest brokers are reporting strong activity in their high-end market across New England and we are hopeful that this strong first quarter on Cape Cod will be followed by a strongspring and summer. We have the sense that buyers, who have been largely on the fence, are starting to realize that we are approaching a turning point in the market.

Highest and Median Sale, $2,000,000+, First Quarter, 2012

In the first quarter of 2012 the top sale on Cape Cod was LandVest’s sale of Mill Farm in Yarmouth Port for $6,000,000. This sale is a good example of changing buyer perceptions. In this case the buyer had been watching the property for several years and finally decided that it was time to act. The median value for high-end sales in the first quarter of 2012 was $2.4 million, the lowest level since 2004.

Days on Market, Sales, $2,000,000+, First Quarter, 2012

Days on market for high-end properties sold during the first quarter of 2012 were reduced somewhat to 536 from the record level of 577 in the first quarter of 2011. For 2000-2010, the average days on market for sales in the first quarters of the year ranged from 99 to 342 days. Given the large inventory of listings, it is likely that average days on market will remain high.

Sales by Town, $2,000,000, First Quarter, 2012

For the past few years the high-end market on Cape Cod has broadened as the perennial top markets have been perceived as being too expensive and as buyers have bid up the prices of special properties in other towns. While the volume in the first quarter of 2012 is small, the geographic spread continues to be broad. Nine of the fifteen Cape Cod towns had high-end sales in the first quarter of 2012 including Barnstable (Barnstable and Cotuit) (2), Chatham (2), Harwich (Harwich Port and West Harwich) (2), Mashpee (New Seabury and Popponesset) (2), Pocasset (1), North Falmouth (1), East Orleans (1), Truro (1), and Yarmouth Port (1).

This post was brought to you by Stewart Young (syoung@landvest.com). Whether it’s an elegant Greek Revival in Lincoln, a 130 acre farm in Medfield, or a waterfront summer estate on Stage Harbor in Chatham, Stewart advises buyers and sellers of some of the most distinctive properties in Massachusetts with a focus on Cape Cod, and the Metro West area of Boston. View Stewart’s current Real Estate listings.

For additional information about LandVest’s real estate consulting, appraisal, and brokerage services, please contact: Ruth Kennedy Sudduth.

The LandVest High-End Market Watch is a periodic review of select high-end markets in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and the Adirondacks. Market data is collected from Multiple Listing Services and does not include private listings. LandVest makes no representation as to the accuracy of the data and therefore is not responsible for any actions taken as a result of use of or reliance on this information.

LandVest, an exclusively high-end focused real estate firm based in New England, affiliated with Christie’s International Real Estate, announces the second annual publication of the LandVest Index. The LandVest Index tracks high-end $2,000,000 plus real estate sales in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the Adirondack region of New York. For 2011, high-end sales across LandVest’s territories were stable compared to last year (2% reduction, 588 vs 598 sales).

2011 marked a year of stabilization in the luxury real estate market in New England. Sales have recovered from the extremely weak levels of 2009, but remain well below the boom year of 2007. Compared to the peak of 840 sales in 2007, sales in 2011 were down 30%; however, they have recovered substantially from a bottom of 442 sales in 2009. More detailed market reports including long-term trends in listings, sales, and average and top sales prices, and days on market are being developed and are currently available for Cape Cod (see Cape Cod Market Perspective) and Middlesex County, Massachusetts (see Middlesex, MA Real Estate Market Report).

Stewart Young, LandVest’s Regional Manager for Cape Cod, also active in the western suburbs of Boston, compiles the LandVest Index. According to Young, “ The market is in a much better place. In 2011, the inventory of active listings started to contract leaving a ratio of sales to listings more typical of pre-bubble years and suggesting a more balanced market for 2012”.

Ruth Kennedy Sudduth, LandVest’s Managing Director of Residential Brokerage, observed that the numbers mask a tremendous change in tone for the positive over the last year. “Sellers and buyers have both become far more realistic. Sellers know that the market is back to levels of a decade ago and buyers are seeing that as a tremendous opportunity to pick up landmark properties at superb values.” She noted a second trend, of well-heeled purchasers using debt to finance their purchases. “With interest rates at historic lows, and growing interest in real assets, buyers are borrowing to finance real estate purchases in order to hedge against potential inflation in the future.”

LandVest, founded in 1968, and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, is a leading brokerage firm for luxury real estate across New England. The firm provides advisory, brokerage, and timberland services.  Exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, LandVest enjoys global reach through their affiliation with the global fine art auction house and their private network of high end real estate associates. Recent major transactions include:

The properties are located on two of the most sought after streets on Beacon Hill:
Mt. Vernon Street and Chestnut Street. A single family and a condominium, each ready for your cosmetic renovation and customization.

Sun-filled town house on Chestnut Street in Boston’s Beacon Hill
was built in 1829 by Cornelius Coolidge.

For more information, contact Terrence Maitland

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Penthouse condominium on Mt. Vernon Street in Beacon Hill
has an abundance of natural light and panoramic city views.

For more information, contact Mary-Elisabeth Jones

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Menikoe Point - a majestic and private oceanfront estate with
panoramic views over Casco Bay and the Atlantic Ocean

Menikoe Point, circa 1870-1900, is a majestic oceanfront compound sited on 10.00± acres with 2,400± feet along Casco Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.  The historic residence presents a waterfront oasis in a park-like setting of mature trees, flowering shrubs and formal gardens.  A separate two-bedroom guest house, deepwater dock, float and mooring is on offer.  The early gardens of Margaret Payson’s “Heron House” were designed by cousin Ellen Louise Payson, with the guest house and refinements to the residence by Architect John Calvin Stevens.  The residence offers elegant light-filled living spaces for gracious entertainment, spectacular ocean views, and a private cloister surrounded by nature’s beauty.

Loggia entry to great lawn

Seaside terrace and gardens

•The coveted Menikoe Point neighborhood is minutes from the Portland Country Club, the Portland Yacht Club, the cultural, business and transportation amenities of Portland.

• Falmouth Foreside is serviced by the Portland International Jetport and Boston’s Logan International is 115 miles by auto and rail.

Falmouth Foreside, settled in the 1600s and incorporated in 1718, is among Maine’s oldest maritime communities.  The Foreside is a neighborhood of established waterfront estates on Casco Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, many dating from the 19th century.

Historic Portland supports a dynamic arts community, including the Portland Museum of Art, symphony, ballet, theatre and popular entertainment venues.  Fine dining, artisan bakeries and merchant offerings enhance the quality of life for the residents.

LandVest brokered the transition to the current owner/stewards 25 years ago.  The estate enjoys beautiful restoration and attention.

For further information, or to visit this property, please contact William Davisson in the LandVest Portland office at 207-228-0170 or at wdavisson@landvest.com.

LandVest led a pivotal year in 2011 for New England and Woodstock, Vermont sales. With the record sale of Indian Head in Northeast Harbor, ME priced at $15,500,000, the record sale of Bessboro Farm in Westport, NY priced at $5,680,000, and Round Pond in Chilmark, Martha’s Vineyard priced at $18,000,000, we are seeing signs of stabilization in the high end of the real estate market throughout the region, and prices are near the range seen in 2001-2002.

Beautifully finished brick Federal Cape with 3 bedrooms, attached garage and one-bedroom apartment

In the Woodstock market, a positive trend is developing and bench market sales between $2 and $4 million have established better footing for buyers and sellers. We are beginning to see expectations come into line with realistic pricing. The 2011 sale of Lull Brook Farm by Ruth Kennedy Sudduth and Story Jenks in Hartland offered at $3,950,000 was a record sale. LandVest continues to lead the market in New England and Vermont for sales over $3 million.

From 2008 to 2009 there was one sale over $2 million, and then in 2010 there were three sales:

These sellers put their properties on the market prior to the 2008 market meltdown at prices that reflected the highs of 05/06, and were slow to make adjustments to the current market conditions. The average discount from original list price to sale price was a whopping 26% and took an average of 3 years to sell. LandVest, along with a few high-end appraisers, felt that in late 2009 that the average discount from 05/06 was about 25% (higher in ski resorts and lower elsewhere).

Then in 2011 there were 4 sales with three above $3m:

Gracious Gentleman's Farm on 90± acres of handsomely landscaped property with two ponds and six-stall barn, indoor and outdoor arenas and split rail paddocks

Classic Vermont horse farm with c1800 chimney Cape and New England bank barn cited on 121 acres of rolling Vermont farmland overlooking the stream fed swimming pond

Craggle Ridge Farm, West Windsor, VT

Average discounts from original list to sale price (for non-distressed properties) decreased to 17%, and took an average of about 1 month to sell. There was an add-on sale in early 2012 to LandVest’s Reeves Road (Lull Brook Farm) sale for additional land, bringing the total sale price over $4 million.

Peak prices of 05/06 are still a ways off, and there is a fundamental paradigm shift in the buyer profile. Second homes buyers continue to dominate the high-end market, but the retiree buyer is being replaced with a younger buyer still in the midst of their career (mostly financial) looking for a country life with amenities similar to their primary residence. The age gap between buyers and sellers has widened, and the great recession has changed buyers’ priorities and expectation of value.

Buyers also continue to be cautious and reluctant to be the high bidder when there is no competition. The only way to make a compelling argument is to have a price that creates competition.  Relative value in the greater regional market (Vermont-New Hampshire-Western MA) is the key, not relative value to what they can buy in Long Island, Greenwich or Dallas.   Success requires clear-eyed realism with superior preparation and presentation.

View from High Meadow, Uphill Farm offers utmost privacy yet is within 3 miles of Woodstock village

There is room for more growth and the $2m to $4m is lacking good inventory particularly in the gentlemen’s farm category with 100 acres or more. LandVest also sees a gap in inventory for the $4m to $8m based on the quality buyers that have come through Uphill Farm in the last year, and historic sales in this price range. Other than the Lull Brook sale, there has not been a sale over $4m since 2009 (see chart below).

For more information on Vermont and Woodstock real estate, please contact Story Jenks. Click here to see Woodstock area Real Estate.

North Shore of Boston sees significant large acreage, farms, and equestrian property sales and pending sales in 2012. Five significant equestrian properties have recently sold or are under agreement with list prices totaling over $15,000,000.

Of these, the most significant property is the LandVest listing of the 188± acre Meredith Farm in Topsfield with an asking price of $6,900,000. The estate, a 9.000± square foot mansion with barns, riding ring, farm house, 50± acres of open fields and paddocks, and building lot is under agreement. Also in Topsfield, Copper Beech Farm, an 80± acre classic horse farm listed by LandVest for $2,950,000 is due to close this month.

In Hamilton, three properties are under agreement or have sold this year and they include two horse farms off Highland Avenue. The first is an unlisted property on 20± acres which was sourced for a LandVest buyer; the property was offered at $3,000,000 and is due to close at the end of March. The other, an 11± acre estate with a 7,000± square foot main house, 8-stall stable and grooms quarters, sand ring, and paddocks sold for $2,950,000 on March 1, 2012. The third equestrian estate, located off Bay Road in Hamilton, is a c1936 brick, colonial on 20± acres, currently under agreement and listed at $1,895,000.

The LandVest listing of Aquila Farm off Bay Road, Hamilton is available with its 8,000± square foot main house, guest house, several barns with a total of 19 stalls, many acres of paddocks and pastures, pool, formal gardens, greenhouses, and ponds. The property is located on the Essex County Trail system and offers subdivision potential, currently listed at $4,950,000.

617 Highland Avenue in Hamilton is situated on 4 acres and features a renovated 6,000+ square foot Colonial with tennis/basketball court, gunite pool, bluestone patio, & pool cabana. The home features 9′ ceilings on the main floor, a gourmet kitchen, master with fireplace & his/her dressing rooms & new master bath. The lower level offers theatre, game room, exercise room, half bath & audio throughout. Direct access to Essex County Trail system.

Buyers continue to focus on unique high-end property holdings in premiere locations as pricing and interest rates remain attractive.

For more information on these properties or other Boston North Shore real estate, contact Lanse Robb or visit the Lanse Robb website .

Click here to view more North Shore Real Estate for Sale.

Barron’s and Jim Grant have both called named coastal Maine Waterfront Real estate a top real estate opportunity.  With the recession in real estate bottoming out, and transactions coming through at levels reflective of 2001, experts agree that Maine real estate offers values not seen for a decade or more.

The recent Barron’s article  “20 Best Places For Second Homes“, stated that the “luxury second-home market is now firming up again” and with a rapidly closing window for bargains.  Grant’s Interest Rate Observer featured Maine as a great opportunity for buyers of choice vacation homes, “In Wall Street argot, Maine would be considered the Pink Sheets market.”  Indeed, like the OTC equity market, Maine offers opportunities for astute investors.  What puts Maine waterfront real estate at the top of the list?  Value and Quality of life.

Barron’s recommends Castine, Maine as a Top 20 Second Home location along with such glittering locales as Aspen, Scottsdale, Jackson Hole and Pebble Beach.  Why the focus on quiet, historic Castine?  Barrons calls Castine “a low-key Yankee playground of celebrated writers, rich with undiscovered gems”.

Three such gems offered by LandVest are Coverly Farm – a classic Maine Saltwater farm with sweeping lawns down to the water, a breezy and open main house, additional guest cottage and lovely gardens.

Main residence of Coverly Farm in Castine ME sits on 40± private acres overlooking fields and stone walls

Nautilus Island has all the magic of a private island, a beautifully restored century old seaside estate, pool, terraces, boathouse, tennis court, vineyard, pine woods, rocky shores and two guest houses.

Aerial view of Nautilus Island in Brooksville, ME

The Morey-Pierce House, an historic, architectural landmark at the entrance to Castine Harbor, is an exquisitely renovated Victorian residence with spectacular views of the water and islands of Penobscot Bay.

Morey-Pierce House - covered entrance porch overlooking Castine

Castine’s particular charm derives from its location at the end of a peninsula projecting into beautiful Penobscot Bay.  One of the oldest settlements in North America, Castine has been continuously occupied since the early 1600’s.  Situated on an island-like peninsula on the eastern shore of Penobscot Bay, the village’s strategic location has been the site of trading posts, missions, military forts and permanent settlements of England, Holland, France and colonial America.  By the end of the 19th century, the town was again rediscovered with the arrival of steamships filled with summer tourists, or “rusticators ” to the locals.  Ample, shingled summer “cottages” sprung up along the shore complementing the stately Georgian and Federal homes that line Castine’s streets.  With the establishment of the Maine Maritime Academy in 1942, the town became a vibrant year-round community.  Today, shops, galleries and restaurants enliven the village.  The Castine Golf Club and the Castine Yacht Club welcome summer residents and visitors to this picturesque destination.  Described in Barron’s as “a step out of time” Castine continues its connection to the ocean as a way of life.

An active cultural life combined with natural beauty has long attracted writers and artists, Barron’s notes that “The late novelist Mary McCarthy and her career-diplomat husband once mixed in town with Washington insiders, literati and showbiz sorts. Today a similar set includes Sex and the City writer and producer, Jenny Bicks.”

Artfully restored and expanded, this historic landmark enjoys spectacular Penobscot Bay views

Sited on ~2.6 acres of beautiful grounds with 324' of waterfront, 2 decks and deep water mooring.

Barron’s featured LandVest’s listing, the Morey-Pierce House , a proud 19th century landmark at the harbor entrance  offered by John Saint-Amour and Terry Sortwell.

For more information about buying or selling distinctive real estate in Coastal Maine, contact one of our Maine Real Estate Brokers.

Camden, Maine Area Real Estate Broker

Portland, Maine Area Real Estate Broker

Northeast Harbor, Area Real Estate Broker

The market for high end properties in New England strengthened in 2011. There are great deals being done. Prices are approaching those of 2001-2002. LandVest is seeing interest across our regions, with the strongest activity along the coast, from Mount Desert to the North Shore of Boston. Highlights include Story Litchfield’s, sale of the 15 million listing Indian Head, on Mount Desert Island, besting her previous record sale for the state of Maine.

LandVest’s private transactions have led the market, including in Maine a recent sale on Prouts Neck by John Scribner, and near Woodstock, Vermont of Lull Brook Farm, by Ruth Kennedy Sudduth, and Story Jenks. LandVest’s private listings help buyers and sellers while avoiding the public eye. Please contact any of our brokers with your specific area of interest. We are seeing landmark properties offered at tremendous values:

In Vermont, Wakanta, one of the best properties in the Mad River Valley, evokes Vermont vernacular with bold mountain views. All the amenities; open living areas, sleeps a crowd, barn, hot tub, trout pond and a great location close to Sugarbush and Mad River Glen.

Click here to view property details
 

On Boston’s North Shore, Aquila Farm, is an 80 acre equestrian estate within easy reach of 128 and downtown. Offered for $4,950,000, the property includes a main house, guest house, barns, has potential for subdivision and is a superb investment value.

Click here to view property details

On Cape Cod, Fairview Waterfront Compound located at 43 Church Street in Woods Hole is listed at $14 million, well below basis. With subdivision potential on one of the best waterfront sites on the Cape, this is an outstanding opportunity.
 
Click here to view property details
 

Classic Shingle-style on Nashawtuc Hill in Concord, MA.
A beautifully restored shingle-style home in a quiet setting walking distance from Concord center. The flowing, flexible floor plan, combined with high ceilings, hardwood floors, and beautiful period details throughout, creates a perfect atmosphere for  entertaining and family life.

Click here to view property details
 

In New Hampshire, Indian Portage on Squam Lake, is a recently constructed Adirondack style retreat with boathouse, one of the prized major properties on quiet Squam Lake. Abutting conservation land, the 24.94 acre estate includes a cottage with deck extending over the water and a guest house.

Click here to view property details

These are a few of the great opportunities available at a fraction of replacement value. LandVest is seeing a pick up in activity from knowledgeable, affluent buyers seeking opportunities to pick up landmark hard assets at very attractive prices. Please contact us or visit our website for further information.

A wonderful opportunity to own on secluded Goose Point in Duxbury.
Abuts conservation land and only steps to a private sandy beach.

Goose Point

48 Goose Point Lane
Duxbury, MA

$1,799,000

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Stunning Georgian Colonial overlooking the 18th fairway of the Weston Golf Club.
This estate in the desirable town of Weston has grand entertaining spaces,
beautiful grounds, a guest house and pool.

Meadowbrook

295 Meadowbrook Road
Weston, MA

$8,900,000

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10.23± acre property with spectacular panoramic views
over conservation land on Monument Street in Concord.
5,180+ square foot, three bedroom home situated on beautifully manicured grounds.

Monument Street Hilltop Retreat

695 Monument Street
Concord, MA   01742

$3,800,000

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NEW LISTING 94.8 acres abutting conservation land.
Equestrian opportunities with a 2,000 sq. ft. stable and an indoor riding arena.
Waterfront on Manchaug pond. Possible 5-lot subdivision.

Beaton Farm

56 Waters Road
Sutton, MA   01590

$1,600,000

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A landmark property in South Dartmouth and the entire South Coast.
There is outstanding privacy in 97± acres of land that is oriented north and south providing beautiful views of the ocean and beyond to the Elizabeth Islands
and Martha's Vineyard. It borders Mass Audubon's 700-acre preserve and
has frontage on Allen's Pond. The keystone is a custom designed 15-room
Shingle-Style home and guest house built in 2004.

97-Acre Waterfront Estate

740 Horseneck Road
South Dartmouth, MA

$10,000,000

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To view other LandVest listings  throughout Greater Boston, visit www.landvest.com or click  Listings for Boston, MA office.

For more information on buying or selling Real Estate or for information on other Real Estate Services that LandVest provides, contact Ruth Kennedy Sudduth, Director of LandVest’s Residential Brokerage Division.

LandVest is pleased to announce the opening of a new Timberland office in the Pacific Northwest.  The office, located in Eugene, Oregon will service LandVest’s timberland transaction and consulting work in the western U.S.

The office will be headed by Dr. David Walters.  David comes to LandVest with over 25 years of experience in forest industry, academia, and consulting.   As Director of LandVest’s Institutional Timberlands Management (ITM) Group, David will oversee LandVest’s timberland marketing and consulting work throughout the western states.  As an accomplished and highly regarded biometrician and statistician, David will also contribute to inventory design, analysis and modeling work on ITM projects throughout the U.S.

Walters has worked in various levels of increasing responsibility for industry and private forest management, consulting and academia since 1987.  He holds an undergraduate degree in Forest Management from Oregon State University, a Masters in Forest Biometrics from Virginia Tech and a PhD in Forest Biometrics from the University of Minnesota.  David has authored or co-authored dozens of professional and academic publications.

“We are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to work with someone of Dave’s caliber” noted Stephen Mongan, President of LandVest, Inc.  “His experience in all aspects of timberland acquisitions, divestitures and management, coupled with his integrity and commitment makes him an ideal team leader for this important western expansion.”

The Oregon office will be overseen by Joe Taggart, Managing Director of LandVest’s ITM Group.

“I could not be more pleased with the fit – both professionally and personally”, says Taggart. “The Institutional Timberlands transaction business has evolved to a highly technical process, focusing on transparency in data and professionalism in presentation.  As a highly regarded Biometrician, Dave offers our clients superior data management and analytical capabilities.  At the same time, his ability to understand and clearly explain the financial impacts of key property attributes will make him a valuable resource to our customers.”

The addition of the Oregon office will allow LandVest to service its growing timberland marketing and consulting practice in the west, which includes recent projects in Washington, California and Hawaii.  Over the past five years, the ITM Group has marketed 700,000 acres with a total value of over $1 billion in the Southeast and West.

For more information, contact:

David Walters

LandVest, Inc.
The Heron Building, Suite 202
576 Olive Street
Eugene, OR 97401
dwalters@landvest.com
541-790-2105   •    541-430-8605 cell

It is all about the Green Mountains, snow and New England tradition. Here are 6 keys to a great year-round property for the winter months:

1. 1.  Keep it close. Vermont is within driving distance
2. 2.  Give me the mountains. The Green Mountains stretch the length of the state
3. 3.  Out my back door: snowshoeing, x-country skiing, downhill skiing and skating
4. 4.  Escape for Dinner one night: Sophisticated local foods – Downtown Grocery
5. 5.  Private, not remote: Slopes, shops and village amenities
6. 6.  Room for the family and friends: Bringing together the people we love

Living room of Highlands Reserve
with exposed post and beam

Vermont barn in the winter
- a New England winter snowscape

LandVest’s great Vermont escape for sale:

Highlands Reserve: Set in the Southern foothills of the Green Mountains, bordering state and national forest, this 627± acre tract provides complete mountain privacy within six miles of the white clapboard village of Weston and ten miles of Okemo Mountain Resort. A summer trout pond becomes winter’s ideal spot for pond hockey at the center of this 20-acre± compound. The main residence is an exposed hemlock Post & Beam with 3,000± s.f. and three bedrooms. The New England Post & Beam barn with attached camp, and a 3,000± s.f. two-suite guest house overlook each end of the pond. A stone turret folly in a hillside field above the residence provides a perfect go to place at sunset. South of the pond is a glade with a stream at its border and the “Kids Camp” fitted with a wood stove and bunk beds and a well-framed mountain view. A short distance by snow shoe there is a series of ten connecting natural ponds in a beautiful woodland setting. A larger trail leads off towards the center of the property to an area of an old settlement identifiable by a series of stone walls. From here, there is a trail to “Tabletop” hill, a great site for a cabin with views of the valley and mountains. A five-mile network of trails, great for skiing, snow shoeing or snow machine, provide sightings of moose, beaver, grouse, woodcock and turkey. The 600 acre managed timberland provides additional value. Offered for $2,100,000.

Contact Story Jenks: sjenks@landvest.com, 802-238-1332