LandVest Corporate Headquarters: Ten Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109     Phone:(617) 723-1800
 
Jan
29
LandVest Sees Maine Farm for Sale Transition into Newly Restored and Operational Ararat Farm.
By LandVest
 

Landvest  This entry is brought to you by Terry Sortwell  and Shannon Thompson, who assist and advise real estate buyers and sellers of fine homes and estates and farms throughout mid-coast Maine.

We’re delighted to learn that Kelmscott Farm in Lincolnville, Maine, which LandVest sold in July 2010, is once again a fully operational farm after a few years as a private home. This beautiful property is composed of over 150 acres near the Maine coast and includes pristine woods, open fields, a renovated farmhouse and barns, an heirloom apple orchard, herb garden, and ponds. The property was most recently a private residence, but before that it was home to a not-for-profit rare breeds foundation, which offered conservation and educational programs on site.

Kelmscott Farm was purchased in July 2010 by a family from New York intent on helping it achieve its rich agricultural potential once again. Jed Beach and Emilia Carbone—both skilled and knowledgeable environmentalists, farmers and educators—were involved with the farm prior to its sale and are now managing it full-time. Check out their blog about their experience: The Farming Adventures of Jed and Emilia

Now, the newly christened Ararat Farms will offer seasonal vegetables, eggs, dairy, and pasture-raised meats through its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. The farm’s stated mission is “to grow a range of products that comprise a holistic, plant-based diet for our customers; to grow high-quality crops with measurably superior flavor, nutrient density, and shelf life than standard grocery store offerings; and to use methods that are all natural, and that conserve and enhance our soil.”

We couldn’t be happier to welcome this new addition to our community.

See these other farm properties among our Maine waterfront real estate listings:
Eastern Bay Farm, a saltwater farm and island property for sale on North Haven, Maine
Coverly Farm, a waterfront property and saltwater farm for sale in Castine, Maine

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Jan
20
Keith Ross of LandVest Leads N.E. Forest Conservation Initiative
By LandVest
 

LandVest Senior Advisor Keith Ross is a leader in the effort towards collaborative land conservation.  In a recent article that appears in the fall edition of Northern Woodlands magazine, Conserve More Land Today through Parcel Aggregation, he promotes this concept of collaborative “aggregation” of woodlands; combining or “bundling” preserved land from separate owners into one larger project.  This process conserves large landscapes and attracts interest from motivated landowners and investors alike. 

The strategy may seem like a difficult feat, but recent examples in New England prove this is feasible and beneficial.  In Western Massachusetts, seven land trusts are working together to obtain funding to buy conservation easements for more than 10,000 acres of timberland owned by 71 landowners, and have raised over seven million dollars to-date.  Several other areas throughout New England have been replicating this land aggregation concept and have been successful lowering costs related to conservation easement monitoring, and appraisals.

Why is land aggregation beneficial for land owners? 

Not all forest conservation projects are significant enough to be completed as stand-alone individual projects.  Most are smaller acreages that have significant ecological values to maintain large forest blocks or protect lakes, ponds, streams, wildlife habitat, etc.  By grouping these projects together they can attract funders that don’t normally focus on small individual projects and the costs of the transactions can be reduced by grouping together the appraisals, negotiations, baseline documentation, etc.

 Why is land aggregation beneficial for the land? 

Most forest land conservation projects are not the highly visible road frontage pieces people drive by every day, nor are they the large mega acreage tracts that are conserved up north.  Most are much smaller tracts that are important to knit together to ensure we have large blocks of forest necessary to ensure the production of clean air and clean water that support all of us.

For more information on Collaborative Land Conservation Contact Keith Ross

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Jan
19
Maine Real Estate News: Skye Farm, recognized as “Best Property in America” and “Editors Pick” is For Sale.
By LandVest
 

Landvest This blog post was brought to you by John Scribner who assists buyers and sellers of distinctive Maine waterfront, Maine farm and Maine vacation properties in the Southern to Mid-Coast Maine area.

Located just an hour drive from Portland, Maine, Skye Farm is an absolute treasure for a potential owner.  Recently selected as an “Editors Pick” in Architectural Digest, and chosen as one of the “Best Properties in America” by The Week, the farm has been recognized for its remarkable attributes and opportunities.

Built in the late 1800s, this Waterford property represents one of the finest Gentleman's Farms in Maine.

The farm was originally owned by Frank Morse and run as an apple orchard for a number of generations of the Morse Family.  The farm was then converted to more of a Gentleman’s Farm in the early-mid 1990s, and a number of different activities have gone on at the farm in the past 20 years.  The current owners of Skye Farm  have raised Highland Cattle and Ringneck Pheasant; they have maintained the orchard, and have added more opportunities for family activities such as a tennis court, a regulation croquet lawn, a man-made 1.5± acre pond for swimming, and converted a barn into a wonderful entertainment area.

The seven bedroom farmhouse with 180± acres of land was originally built in the mid-1800s and boasts seven bedrooms with five bathrooms, sauna, whirlpool, media room, and full workshop, as well as many components and equipment to complement the orchards and farming aspects of the property.  An added asset is the 1,550± feet of frontage on McWain Pond with a cottage at the waters edge and a dock system with moorings.   

Sited in Waterford, Maine , in the foothills of the New England White Mountains of Western Maine, Skye Farm  is a short drive to some of the best skiing and hiking in the Northeast, including Shawnee Peak, Sunday River, Mt. Abrams, and Sugarloaf.  It is also just an hour from North Conway, NH and the outdoor adventure activities of the Presidential Range and the Appalachian Mountain Club. 

Whether you choose Skye Farm  to be a private residence growing into a generational four-season family property, or maybe a Gentleman’s Farm with raising of livestock, or even a superb equestrian facility, and just maybe a relaxing country bed and breakfast, Skye Farm  offers tremendous value for any buyer. 

For more information or to arrange for a visit to Skye Farm , please contact John Scribner at 207-874-2057 or jscribner@landvest.com.

LandVest offers other Gentleman’s Farms and equestrian opportunities throughout New England.

 Click to view additional extraordinary Maine properties for sale

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Jan
7
Camden Maine Real Estate News: Portland Magazine chooses Norumbega Castle in Camden as House of the Month
By LandVest
 

Landvest  This entry is brought to you by Terry Sortwell  and Shannon Thompson, who assist and advise real estate buyers and sellers of fine homes and estates throughout mid-coast Maine.

$2.475 million buys Norumbega Castle -Portland Magazine’s House of the Month.

Norumbega Castle in Camden, Maine

Located within walking distance of Camden's village center, Norumbega Castle is a Maine coastal landmark.

Anyone who has ever visited Norumbega Castle will understand why Portland Magazine chose it for their December House of the Month.  In this article, Colin W. Sargent extols the many reasons why this property earned its winning title.  “Built by Joseph Stearns in 1886, Norumbega Castle in Camden, Maine was originally used as a summer vacation house. Designed by architect Arthur Bates Jennings, the castle has become famous in recent years as a popular inn where both movie stars and politicians alike have resided. Among such public figures associated with the inn include House Speaker Newt Gingrich as well as Dustin Hoffman, who was actually denied a room because they were all booked and he did not have a reservation. This holiday season, Norumbega is being sold by LandVest as a single family home, “which it was until the 1980s,” says listing agent Terry Sortwell. Though the castle is still well suited for continued operation as a luxury lodging facility, it also has the capability to be restored to use as a private residence. Surrounded by 3.95 acres of landscaped grounds, the building features 13 en suite guest rooms as well as elegant common areas featuring exquisite architectural detail including ornate wood paneling, exposed beams, parquet floors and elaborately handcrafted fireplaces.”   We agree with Colin!

Click for more information on Norumbega Castle

Click to read the Portland Magazine article in the LandVest News

Visit Portland Magazine

Click to view additional properties in the Camden Maine area

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Jan
5
Maine Coast Real Estate offers potential for small-scale farming
By LandVest
 

 Landvest  This entry is brought to you by Terry Sortwell  and Shannon Thompson, who assist and advise real estate buyers of fine homes and estates throughout mid-coast Maine.

The Boston Globe recently carried a great article about our neighbor, Salt Water Farm, an innovative Maine coast center for gourmet cooking classes, farm workshops, and feasts.

In the last few years we’ve seen increased interest in fine farms from buyers of coastal Maine real estate, many of whom are relocating to the Maine coast from other parts of the country. These properties include saltwater farms, inland gentleman’s farms, and Maine coast properties with the potential for small-scale farming. Examples of this trend are the sales of the Welliver Farm and Kelmscott Farm, both in Lincolnville; Captain Davis House, a beautiful and classic saltwater farm in Cushing; the Berry Farm, a inland farm in Montville; and Longmeadow Farm, a saltwater farm on Islesboro.

Coverly farm is a saltwater farm that is currently for sale in Castine, Maine.

Currently for sale in Castine, Maine, Coverly Farm is a saltwater farm located near the town's historic village district.

Buyers seeking distinctive farm properties on the Maine coast have a number of appealing options. Eastern Bay Farm on North Haven offers a historic cape farmhouse overlooking open fields. The property includes approximately 90 acres with 580 feet of frontage and a spectacular beach. Coverly Farm encompasses some 40 acres in Castine, with sweeping meadows bordered by old stone walls and 1,100± feet of beautiful shorefront on the Bagaduce, a tidal estuary in East Penobscot Bay. Watch for more exceptional farm properties in the coming weeks—we’ve got a couple of wonderful new listings coming up.

Eastern Bay Farm is a beautiful saltwater farm that is for sale in North Haven, Maine.

Eastern Bay Farm is a saltwater farm currently for sale on the coast of Maine in North Haven.

Click to view more Camden, Maine (and surrounding area) real estate for sale.

Click for more information on Terry Sortwell or Shannon Thompson who specialize in assisting both buyers and sellers of extraordinary real estate properties in the Camden, Maine area.

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Oct
22
Midcoast Maine Real Estate Market Report: Our Perspective from Camden, Maine.
By LandVest
 

 Landvest  This entry is brought to you by Terry Sortwell  and Shannon Thompson, who assist and advise real estate buyers of fine homes and estates throughout mid-coast Maine.

Gilkey Harbor in Islesboro, Maine is just one of LandVest - Camden, Maine's Waterfront Properties for Sale

As we head into the fourth quarter, it’s clear that the real estate market of 2010 is shaping up to be better than that of 2009, though only marginally so. Around the country, brokers in the high-end real estate business are reporting modest increases in activity. Brokers at the Christie’s Great Estates conference this month in Toronto reported higher sales figures this year. Most, however, are also reporting price declines of about 30% (up to 40% for big properties) from the highs reached in 2006.
 
Within LandVest, we’ve seen a number of notable sales this year. Most significantly, high net worth individuals are investing in large (more…)

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Aug
9
Midcoast Maine Real Estate Market Shows Improvement
By LandVest
 

MIDCOAST MAINE  REAL ESTATE ANALYSIS, JANUARY – JUNE 2010

 Landvest  This entry is brought to you by Terry Sortwell (tsortwell@landvest.com) and Shannon Thompson (sthompson@landvest.com), who assist and advise real estate buyers of fine homes and estates throughout mid-coast Maine.

The midcoast Maine real estate   market in the first half of 2010 has improved over 2009. An analysis of MLS data of coastal and island communities from Boothbay real estate to the Blue Hill Peninsula  real estate reveals there have been 16 sales of residential properties priced above $1,000,000 in the first half of this year. There were 8 sales in this range in the first half of 2009 (and 10 sales in the second half). In comparison, in 2006 there were 47 sales above $1,000,000. On the heels of the European financial crisis amid renewed concerns and confusion about the global economic recovery, the real estate market remains illiquid and unpredictable. Demand is still down, inventory of current listings is growing, and days on market are increasing. Generally speaking, buyers are purchasing properties when they find something with the exactly the special attributes they’re seeking, and they are extremely sensitive about pricing. Properties with a significant land component and lots of privacy, priced competitively for today’s market, are those that are getting the most attention and ultimately selling. Our four most recent midcoast maine  real estate sales, in July, June and May, are all examples of this trend, offering 16, 21, 34, and 160 acres of land, respectively. Our sense of optimism about the long-term picture for coastal Maine real estate remains as strong as ever. While luxury real estate markets in other parts of the country are severely affected by bank-owned properties driving prices down, ours is not. We continue to believe the next couple of years will be a period of transition, with the market slowly stabilizing, as more buyers and sellers reach agreement and sign contracts. With every sale, buyers and sellers alike have a little more data on which to base decisions, and that knowledge helps fuels the confidence needed to keep things moving forward toward a more balanced market.

For more information on buying or selling real estate in the Camden, Maine area contact Terry Sortwell at tsortwell@landvest.com

Camden Maine Real Estate for Sale

Coastal Maine Real Estate for Sale

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Jun
22
Terry Sortwell of LandVest closes $2,250,000 sale on Islesboro, first 2 million+ sale since May 2008
By LandVest
 

The high-end Islesboro Maine real estate market  has been much like many other secondary home markets—quiet. It took an exceptional 22±-acre saltwater farm on Seal Harbor with 2,670± feet of shorefront, a deepwater dock and a savvy buyer to get things moving again. “The property offered a few key characteristics that buyers in this market are seeking: lots of privacy, a significant land component, and a protected deepwater dock—and it was well priced,” says Terry Sortwell of LandVest. The Islesboro real estate market hasn’t had a sale over $2 million since May 2008 (which was also a LandVest sale), but we are beginning to see sales of waterfront real estate pick up, particularly among properties with these desirable elements. It’s too early to say with any certainty that the market is rebounding, but we are pleased to see this kind of activity in Islesboro real estate and among waterfront properties along the central Maine coast.   For more information about the Longmeadow Farm sale, or for more information about buying or selling Mid-Coast Maine Real Estate contact Terry Sortwell by email tsortwell@landvest.com.

If you are interested in Saltwater farms in Maine, you may be interested in the Moxie Farm in Friendship, Maine

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Apr
13
LandVest Listing Featured on DownEast Mag Cover
By LandVest
 

Cover Shot: LandVest Listing (Sold)

This month’s cover of DownEast Magazine features a photograph of an island off Camden, Maine, that LandVest sold in 2009. Located in Penobscot Bay with easy access from North Haven, Camden, or Deer Isle, this very special private island covers about 15 acres. It is covered in spruce forest and has a wonderful path running around its perimeter, with benches strategically placed to rest and enjoy the views of the Camden Hills and the islands of Penobscot Bay. Its shorefront is typical of this section of the Maine coast, with beautiful bold granite ledge, cobblestone beaches, and countless tide pools inviting hours of exploration. Just as living on an island presents its own challenges and rewards, so too does buying or selling an island property. In our Camden office, we’re especially fond of island real estate, not only because it allows us the opportunity to ply the Maine Coast in our 32-foot Holland lobster yacht with some of the best islands for sale. It’s also because we also enjoy putting our knowledge and experience to work helping buyers and sellers navigate the complexities of island real estate, such as valuation, logistics, regulations, and the costs and feasibility of development on an island.

Contact Terry Sortwell, Regional Manager and Principal in our Camden, Maine office if you’d like to talk about Maine island properties.  Phone: 207-236-3543

Click here for a list of our Maine island property listings.

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Apr
5
The Captain Davis House in Cushing, Maine featured in Soundings Magazine.
By LandVest
 

The Captain Davis House, a waterfront coastal estate that LandVest – Camden, Maine has listed in the historic town of Cushing, was featured in this month’s Soundings Magazine.  

The Captain Davis House

The Captain Davis House

The Waterfront Real Estate article tells the story of how George and Joan Brewster fell in love at first sight with their Maine summer vacation home, and how this Cushing, Maine property has come to mean so much to their children and grandchildren. When the family decided that it was time to put this special saltwater farm on the market, they contacted the LandVest Camden real estate office. The property interested us from the very start because it offers a combination of appealing elements that is increasingly rare: a great location, a classic historic home in good condition, a private setting on a large parcel of land with fields sweeping to the shore, a deepwater dock with a dockhouse, and a substantial boathouse. The property was clearly not only a special summer home and waterfront estate, but a generational asset, a true legacy property. We’re pleased that the Brewster family entrusted LandVest with the sale of their special Cushing property and grateful for the opportunity to help someone else achieve the dream of finding his ideal coastal Maine property.

Click here to view Maine Waterfront Real Estate for Sale

Contact Terry Sortwell, Regional Manager and Principal in our Camden, Maine office if you’d like to talk about Maine island properties.  Phone: 207-236-3543

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