The people who oppose this arena say it could cost taxpayers. But I don’t see that in this plan. Hollywood Slots will cover the costs of building it, and it will be a great asset for this community.

To that, the opponents say, what if Hollywood Slots goes away? That seems unlikely. We can come up with a million “what if’s” to keep us from progressing to make Bangor a better place. What if the Bangor Mall closes? What if there’s an earthquake?

We can’t let fear of the unknown keep us from being a better place to live.

Vote  “yes” on May 4. 

For more information about the Arena, check out the website...http://www.arenayes.com/index.php?id=1

Belfast is one of my favoite Day trips in Maine.  It offers outdoor recreation, unique shopping, incredible dining options and if you want to stay longer, some fantastic B & Bs.  Here are a few photos I took of the area.

A day that changed us forever.

Many of my clients know I am a big Keith Urban fan so I thought I would share pictures from his next to last show of the year in Essex Junction, VT.  Kris Allen from American Idol fame opened the show and really got the crowd going w/ his cover of Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror".  When Keith Urban entered the stage it started raining (outdoor venue) and it really created a dramatic feel with the wind & rain, but just as quickly as it came it passed.  This concert was one of the best I've been to (and I've been to a lot!).  As Keith Urban said "it was a magical night in Vermont!" 

The American Folk Festival is a large-scale, three-day event. Held each year at the end of August in downtown Bangor, Maine, the Festival presents the music and dance from the many cultures that make up America today.  Here are few photos I took at this year's event. 

Penobscot County was up 33.51% in units sold and the median sold price was down 3.31% to an average of $119,000.  Waldo County was also up 48.84% in units sold with  a median sold price of $147,500.  For more information on other counties please visit the Maine Realtor's press release.

The National Association of Realtors today reports a nationwide home sales increase of 21.4 percent since October 2008. The national median existing sales price of $173,100 reflects a dip of 6.8 percent. In the regional Northeast, sales rose 27.7 percent. The regional median sales price declined 2.6 percent to $235,400.

This is encouraging news for the Real Estate Market in Maine.  Also, with the extended and enhanced Homebuyer tax credit we anticipate this trend to continue.  For more information regarding the October 2009 Housing report click here.

If you would like more information regarding the Homebuyer tax credit or if you are considering purchasing or selling a home, please send an email or call me @ 207-942-6310 x215.

Congress has passed new legislation that:

·     Extends the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010.

·     Expands the credit to grant up to $6,500 credit to current home owners purchasing a new or existing home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

Here is more information about how the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit can help prospective home buyers become part of the American dream. If you have specific questions or need additional information, please contact a tax professional or the Internal Revenue Service at 800-829-1040.

Who Qualifies for the Extended Credit?

·     First-time home buyers who purchase homes between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

·     Current home owners purchasing a home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010, who have used the home being sold or vacated as a principal residence for five consecutive years within the last eight.

This tax credit is great news for First-time Home buyers as well current home owners that want to "trade-up" or "down-size".  For more information,please feel free to contact me as I would love to assist you with the purchase and/or sale.

The profile also noted that the region  “has four distinct seasons, and outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the winter and switch to golfing, fishing and hiking when the weather turns. Acadia National Park and Baxter State Park are about 90 minutes away, but there are 30 parks in Bangor. The City Forest comprises 650 acres with 5 miles of biking and cross-country trails."

The Greater Bangor also has many amenities that retirees are drawn to. These include two major hospitals, a public bus system, a number of assisted living and senior housing facilities and several Colleges & Universities.

The magazine looked at about 2,000 communities before coming up with its list of the top 25 places to retire. Selection factors included tax rates, recreational opportunities, medical care, arts and culture, housing costs, income and age ranges, job growth, fastest and slowest commutes, weather, air cleanliness and statistics regarding rich singles. The magazine’s listings for retirement living can be found on its Web site at http://money.cnn.com.

Contact me if you're considering retiring in the Greater Bangor area or if you would like more information about the region.

Recently  I completed an intensive three-day conference on personal marketing and the future of real estate. “Gateway,” presented by real estate marketing experts Hobbs/Herder Advertising, is a leading national training program offered to top real estate professionals nationwide.

About  500 of  the Northeast's real estate elite were in attendance at the seminar, held August 12-14  in Boston, MA  Leading the conference was Greg Herder, founders of Hobbs/Herder Advertising.  Since 1986, Hobbs/Herder has trained thousands of agents and brokers across North America on powerful lead-generating marketing and business systems. At this gathering of the brightest minds in real estate, three other colleagues from Realty of Maine and I learned groundbreaking marketing techniques and concepts that can be used to our advantage in today’s complex market.  The Hobbs/Herder philosophy is based on marketing the agent on a personal level through print and Internet media. 

I saw “Gateway” as the next step in gaining a foothold in the competitive local real estate market.  By marketing the person instead of the house, I gain an instant advantage in the mind of the consumer.  I aim to become a local resource, not just another sales person.

For more on “The Gateway” or Hobbs/Herder Advertising’s other programs, visit www.HobbsHerder.com.

Schoodic Point (Acadia National Park)

Schoodic Peninsula and Acadia National Park consists of the towns of Winter Harbor, Gouldsboro, Sullivan, Sorrrento and Franklin.  This area is beautiful with its crashing surf,   rocky coastline and panoramic views of the Atlantic ocean. Enjoy hiking the trails in Acadia, sea kayaking and sailing in Frenchman’s Bay, biking, bird watching, golf and cross country skiing.

Portland Head Light

Fort Williams is located in Cape Elizabeth and its home to the oldest lighthouse in Maine and the most photographed, Portland Head Light.  Enjoy the playing fields, tennis courts, beach, or simply walking around the park. Special events like the Family Fun Day, the Labor Day Art Show, the People's Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race and performances by the Portland Symphony Orchestra happen yearly.

Cadillac Mountain (Acadia National Park)

At 1530 ft, Cadillac Mountain rises above the town of Bar Harbor and it offers amazing views of the Porcupine Islands and Frenchman Bay. Explore the summit of this granite mountain along a .3-mile trail, which includes exhibits about natural and human history.  Some of the trail is accessible to wheelchair users.  To get to Cadillac Mountain you'll climb a winding, narrow, 3.5-mile road. The road is closed from December 1 through April 14 and whenever weather conditions require.  A great spot to watch the sun set!

Monhegan Island

Monhegan is a small, rocky Island ten miles from the nearest mainland and about a square mile in area. It is accessible only by boat and there are no cars or paved roads on the Island.   For more than 100 years, Monhegan has been a summer haven for artists and other visitors who appreciate its isolation, the beauty of its wilderness areas, its quiet relaxed atmosphere, and its unhurried pace.   We took the Monhegan Boat Line from Port Clyde and stayed at the Island Inn and The Mohegan House.  There are spectacular views from the walking trails and it is truly an amazing getaway!