Maine Real Estate Info

First start off with a self-directed IRA. You may be able to take funds from other accounts such as 401(k)s or SEP IRA’s, etc., to initiate your new self-directed plan. Yes, the IRS allows us to invest in traditional or alternative investments that are not publicly traded. News has it that the real estate market may have hit bottom. You can read it here at Realty Times. Buy low and sell high has been the investors motto and what better time to buy real estate, than now. Interest rates have also started to rise, yet another indication of perfect timing to buy. The hard part is determining what is low and what is high and with all the on-line and print news reflecting the current Real Estate conditions, I don’t think anyone willing to venture onto this investment strategy would be misinformed.

The catch to using your self-directed IRA to invest in real estate is that it cannot be your primary residence. It must be for investment purposes only. If you owned a rental property somewhere you’d like to vacation to, let’s say a condo in Maine, you would not be able to use that condo in Maine for even one day of the year.

There are multiple benefits to investing in this type of IRA. You should seek the assistance from one of several custodial companies, such as Guidant Financial, if you’re not comfortable making this venture on your own. Visit http://www.iraaa.org/ for more information on using your IRA to invest in real estate.

While you’re mulling this over, think of investing in Maine! Visit us at meservier.com to search for over 25,000 Maine properties.

 Visit the Dailey; MaineBiz for your inbox. It’s a headliner for MaineBiz.biz and the newsprint; Maine’s Business News Source. Great content for the curious Maine’ah. Sign up for it in your email.

In this issue, they report where Maine ranks in the nations best in regards to Healthcare. Read on;

Study: Maine’s healthcare 5th best in nation
Maine’s healthcare system is among the best in the country, according to a new report by the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation in New York City.

In a study developed to complement the foundation’s 2006 “National Scorecard on U.S. Health System Performance,” the “State Scorecard” placed Maine fifth among the 50 states for healthcare access, quality and equity. The state placed in the median range in the remaining two major categories — avoidable hospital use, and cost and degree to which state residents enjoy long, healthy lives. Maine ranks second in the country for quality of care and healthcare access across socioeconomic classes.

The Commonwealth Fund measured all 50 states according to 32 performance indicators. Hawaii, Iowa, New Hampshire and Vermont rounded out the top five, while Oklahoma was ranked at the bottom of the list.

The good: Lewiston — some would say the state’s most optimistic city — put another feather in its cap this week when the National Civic League named it an All-American City. The title, given to 10 cities across the United States, honors cities that demonstrate problem-solving skills and civic pride.

I subscribe to this newsletter that provides great inspiration as well as tips. This insight fuels imagination and motivates me to keep plugging on. When you need the daily inspiration to keep your business and lifestyle moving, whether it be music orprint materials, seek the numerous resources available on-line or find a bookstore. You will be healthier, wealthier and wiser.

Read on for today’s Business Booster:

The Art of Happiness
Making Each Day Your Best

In The Art of Happiness*, the Dalai Lama shares this powerful insight into life:

“I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. That is clear. [Regardless of religion], we are all seeking something better in life. So I think the very motion of our life is toward happiness.”

But how are we to achieve this happiness that we all seek? What common factor can we rely upon, regardless of our health, wealth, appearance, family, etc? The Dalai Lama goes on to discuss how the mind can be trained for happiness, despite a lack of material wealth and success. It’s that whole idea of “wanting what you have versus having what you want.”

Stephen Covey refers to this as “responsibility,” or the ability to choose your response. Tony Robbins calls it “re-framing your perspective”. James Allen simply calls it “self-control.” Whatever name it goes by, the principle is the same: We all have the power to think positive thoughts, and to react positively to every “negative” thing that happens in our lives.

Why, then, is it so hard to do?

Because like anything of any worth, it takes effort. It takes practice. It takes time. And like most skills, the sooner you begin, the sooner it gets easy. But no matter how old we are, we can all start practicing positive thinking today, and begin being happier immediately.

It’s very easy to get out of practice, however, so it’s best to surround yourself with triggers for happiness. Music is one of the best triggers. Just think how happy we get when we hear Little Orphan Annie singing, “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow,” or Bobby McFerrin crooning, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” We can also remind ourselves with little incantations such as “look on the bright side” when things aren’t going as planned.

I hope this tip brightens up your day!

Stay tuned for more Business Boosters coming your way!

*The Art of Happiness, by Howard C. Cutler, MD, ©1998, Simon & Schuster, Inc.

More GREEN news! 

Daily Real Estate News  |  June 12, 2007

Sustainability in Practice: Top 25 Greenest U.S. Cities
As Kermit the frog says, “It’s not easy being green.”

Country Home magazine, with help from Sperling’s Best Places, examined all 379 major metropolitan areas in the country, ranking them according to how green they were.

Qualifications for top ranking included air and watershed quality, miles of mass transit, power usage, farmers’ markets, organic producers, and the number of green-certified buildings.

Editor-in-Chief Carol Sheehan says, “We wanted to find out who in America is actually taking action, where they are, and what they are doing.”

Here are the magazine’s picks for the 25 greenest cities in America:

1. Burlington-South Burlington, Vt.
2. Ithaca, N.Y.
3. Corvallis, Ore.
4. Springfield, Mass.
5. Wenatchee, Wash.
6. Charlottesville, Va.
7. Boulder, Colo.
8. Madison, Wis.
9. Binghamton, N.Y.
10. Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
11. Ann Arbor, Mich.
12. San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif.
13. La Crosse, Wis.
14. Pittsfield, Mass.
15. Eau Claire, Wis.
16. Durham, N.C.
17. Norwich-New London, Conn.
18. Eugene-Springfield, Ore.
19. San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, Calif.
20. Chico, Calif.
21. Harrisburg-Carlisle, Pa.
22. Barnstable Town, Mass.
23. Utica-Rome, N.Y.
24. Missoula, Mont.
25. Asheville, N.C.

Source: Country Home (April 2007)

Study: Housing costs too high
A Harvard University housing study recently reported that, for many Americans, housing costs are eating up too much of their annual income.

The university’s Joint Center for Housing Studies said in its 2007 State of the Nation’s Housing report that housing affordability “remains a pervasive problem,” and that more than 30 million Americans spend 30% or more of their annual income on rent or mortgage payments.

The report noted that southern Maine was the state’s most difficult housing market, and that the hourly wage required to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment was between $14.50 and $21.74. For the rest of the state, a renter would have to earn between $7.25 and $14.49 an hour to afford the same apartment. That compares to the state’s current minimum wage of $6.75 an hour.

A new Harvard University study says high housing prices are eating up too much of homeowners’ salaries. Here’s a list of the highest median sales prices (MSP) of single-family homes sold in Maine counties during February and April of this year, as well the change from the MSP during the same period in 2006.

Source: Maine Association of Realtors and Mainebiz.biz

Lewiston, hurrah!
The National Civic League last week named Lewiston an All-America City.

The title, given to 10 cities across the U.S., is for cities that demonstrate problem-solving skills and civic pride. Lewiston submitted an application for the honor in April, highlighting the Lots to Gardens community garden project, the city council’s youth advisory council and its efforts to increase low-income residents’ use of the Earned Income Tax Credit program, according to a press release. Lewiston was a finalist for the award last year.

City officials began marketing the title yesterday, hanging a sign on Alfred Plourde Parkway, according to the Lewiston Sun Journal. “It doesn’t mean we don’t have any problems,” City Councilor Norm Rousseau told the paper. “It means we come together to solve the problems we have. This group and these judges, from across the country, recognized that.”

source: The Daily - MaineBiz for your inbox

Whenever I read something positive and worthwhile, there is an instant urge to tell someone about it. Of course the blog is the first place I think about going to. Then it’s the rest of my team and then the office…yeah, in that order. And today’s news-worthy tidbit is no exception. Amidst the long faces in the office of those Realtors who may never of had to work in this type of market, this brings hope. And then there are the seasoned Realtors, who are true veterans and have been through it all, say, what housing bubble?…slow market?…what are you talking about?…ohh that news, well INBD (It’s no big deal). Either way it’s GOOD news.

Housing Bounces Back: Here are the Signs
Several factors suggest that housing is looking better, after a year when a slump has had a hold on not only housing but also economic growth in general.

Here are some of the signs that things are starting to look up:

• Sales of new homes soared 16.2 percent in April, the largest monthly gain in 14 years, reaching an annual rate of 981,000.

• Total single-family sales - both new and existing - during the first four months of the year have averaged 5.5 million, about the same pace as in the final four months of last year.

• Through May 25, the four-week average of applications for new mortgages was at its highest level since early 2006, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association.

To put the decline into perspective, nationwide home prices are up 29.2 percent over the past three years and 64.3 percent over the past five years. That should be enough to comfort consumers who might be worried about the value of their homes, say Business Week Magazine analysts,.

Source: Business Week, James C. Cooper (06/11/07)

I have to say our team has a very positive outlook and attitude. It is a pleasure to work with them on a daily basis. Keep on smilin’! 

Turner Maine Real Estate Luxury Home For Sale

Meservier & Associates | Keller Williams Realty Mid Maine | tammy@meservier.com | 207-784-2525 Turner, ME Elegant Contemporary with Views 4 Bdrm Single Family House Off The Market! Year Built 2002 Sq Footage 5,030 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 4 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 4 Car garage Lot Size 1.84 acres HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Custom built home with brick front; Gorgeous 22′ open foyer with crystal chandelier, curved staircase and gleaming marble tile floors; Gourmet kitchen with granite counters; beautiful hardwood floors. The master bedroom suite is amazing with dressing area, his & hers showers, jacuzzi and private deck with hot tub. 2 attached garages will accommodate 4 cars; enjoy nice views, too! see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES Central A/C Central heat Fireplace ADDITIONAL LINKS Map of property Mortgage calculator ADDITIONAL PHOTOS Seller contact info: Meservier & Associates Keller Williams Realty Mid Maine tammy@meservier.com 207-784-2525 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: Jun 7, 2007, 5:49am PDT

Located In Turner Maine 04282