Maine is one big state with diverse climate, topography and weather.

Besides Maine's CTW, getting around Vacationland, how far here and there is a common question.

I get asked a lot for distances in Maine to other towns, cities in and out of state. 

Less people up here in the right hand, northeastern corner of the US.

Maine is the largest of the New England, and 39th in size among the 50 states.

So with Maine's 33,265 square miles to cover what do you need to know to get from point A to B? Well for starters, Interstate 95 starts in Kittery and covers 305 miles to the Canadian - US border crossing in Houlton Maine.

Interstate 95 was designed to be a military highway to move equipment and men fast in times of national emergency. It was a quick way to get supplies and personnel to and from Loring Air Force Base in Limestone Maine.

US Rt 1 that runs along the Maine's approximately 3478 miles of tidally-influenced shoreline is a favor vacation destination. Where tourists can stop at quaint village shops, sample the local Maine from the sea delicacies. Pick up some mementos, nick knacks.

Property taxes on your home, land, farm, waterfront or whatever Maine real estate.

No one wants to pay any more than they have to for property taxes right?

But you have a shot at doing something about it if the amount your pay makes you grumble. 

Seems out of whack. 

And if your Maine property tax assessment was a low one, the urge, itch to run to the phone, call the local assessor to up the ante is not likely to happen.

Feeling your are not paying enough, your fair share with the figure on your property tax bill never happens.

But despite the expression nothing is certain except death and taxes, there is a process if what your Maine property tax bill seems out of line, exorbitant.

For starters what everyone in any Maine town, plantation or even unorganized township pays for property taxes  is public information.

Open for review. Subject to being studied. And you may find your pie hole gets duct tape shut and you stay clear of the Maine property tax assessor. Because you actually have a lower tax bill than others in the neighborhood, area with more substantial properties.

If you find after a little home work that you are being singled out, not in the ball park of other similar real estate property tax bills, ask for a review. The meeting to go over how the assessment for your property taxes was arrived at will be helpful. And may turn up mistakes. Square footage larger than the assessor's office shows or a shed, garage no longer on the property but still added in to the tax bill happens.

Real estate videos are one effective, quick and easy way to "show and tell" a property listing, to completely showcase a local community.  

Real estate videos put an area on the map so buyers who want to relocate, retire, vacation or make an investment get "schooled" quick and easy.

If they like what they see and hear in a community video they might be more interested than seeing just a photo on a static page with skimpy copy. 

Video delivers so much more with sight and sound.

But getting REALTORS to understand this is like asking a crowded, shoulder to shoulder room of cigarette smokers how many would like to quit.

The same overwhelming response in hands held high happens for  the number or REALTORS who wish they were doing real estate videos. Sadly, less than five percent of real estate agents or brokers are shooting, editing, rendering and uploading video productions.

So let's get this right. Most real estate professionals would agree they all should be doing video on a regular basis. They could be boosting their property listing inventory, increasing the number of real estate sales, and improving their overall brand image exposure visibility.

But they still don't use videos just the same. Hmmm, interesting.  So if real estate video is the cat's meow,  why the feet dragging  from using it in the media arsenal as a primary tool and marketing weapon? Why the fear and dread of producing real estate videos?  It all boils down to a couple of recurring reasons. Causing the log jam, creating obstacles from popping a few powerful vitamin "V"'s in to the real estate marketing daily diet.

Maine is a rural, less populated state and land is in big supply, under valued and low cost to buy.

But bank loans for Maine land mortgages require larger down payments. In the thirty five to forty percent down payment range unless there is a structure, improvements on the property.

Something substantial enough for a dwelling so the Maine bank can find another lower down payment required loan program to slide the land loan in to change the terms.

Maine land loans through a banking, lending institution also come with higher interest rates than standard garden variety home mortgages. Why? Because banks like to make loans that are packaged to sell on the secondary mortgage market. That's how the borrower, consumer gets the lowest home loan bank rate.

But with land, because the mortgage is not sold, but retained, the Maine bank is going to make it worth their while to "hang on to the loan". Usually fifteen year term land only mortgages are tops for the pay back term. 

The beauty of a Maine land property sale is the owner usually does not need to sell outright to replace it.

With a Maine home that has a mortgage it is imperative that the property be cashed out, paid off, discharged. The loan payed off at the Maine real estate closing. So another house can be purchased. It can be replaced by the relocating, moving Maine home owner.

Maine land that a woodpecker would have to pack a lunch to fly across, heavily cut over is less risky to owner finance.

Cheap, cut over Maine wood land owner financing is common because the buyer can not hurt it. Less down payment is required because the risk is lower. And if the owner financed land buyer drills a water well, installs a private septic system, does site work for a home, it makes the collateral, the property mortgaged that much more valuable for the owner on the other end of the mortgage loan.

Banks in Maine, anywhere don't want the owner to be setting up "wrap arounds". A contract between a buyer and seller of a home sale. Where the buyer "piggy backs" on the existing Maine home mortgage. A bell goes off once that is attempted by the seller. To finance a home with the private mortgage terms weaved around the existing loan instrument on record at the local registry of deeds causes an acceleration clause to comes alive. The money owed, remaining loan balance all becomes due. Like a television thriller where the home made bomb explodes because the bomb squad should have cut the green not red wire. 

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