The 2020 MEREDA Index: A Look at the 2019 Data and a Review of Current Conditions

This most recent release provides a review of 2019’s full calendar year. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic striking right before the 2019 Index unveiling, even recent history lost importance as global focus shifted instantly to the uncertain future. Insightfully, MEREDA leadership pivoted just as quickly, adding a preview of 2020 based on first quarter data.
This year marks the first year that we have revised the timing of the Index so that an entire calendar year is presented when the Index is unveiled.   The current MEREDA Index contains a measurement and presentation of the real estate market in Maine, and its various components for all of 2019.   Rather than presenting the Index through the third quarter of the preceding year at our annual January Forecast Conference, and then producing a second edition with a full calendar year of data, the Index is now presented once a year in the spring, with an entire year of data.

Because of the great changes that have occurred in a very short period of time beginning in March 2020, and because of the relevance of the 2020 data showing the initial impact of the virus, we asked Dr. Charles Colgan, the economist who prepares the Index, to include some first quarter 2020 data in a supplement to the Index that is included in the index presentation.

We have many people to thank!  Firstly, thank you to those involved in providing commentary found in our Print Edition and accompanying Video, which can be accessed on our website.  Providing insights into the residential sector was Mark Small of Landmark Realty, Jessica Estes of The Boulos Company spoke about the commercial sector, and Patrick Ducas of Ducas Construction spoke on construction.

Thank you also to those folks participating in our June 4th webinar.  In an effort to broaden the discussion even further, we asked additional MEREDA members to provide supplementary perspectives on the residential, commercial, and construction sectors. The webinar included Tim Soley of East Brown Cow discussing the commercial sector, Dava Davin of Portside Real Estate Group covered the residential sector, and the construction sector was covered by Kevin French of Landry/French Construction.

Many thanks also, to MEREDA president Gary Vogel, for taking the lead on the June 4th webinar as moderator, and to Dr. Charles Colgan, for always providing an incisive analysis for our members.