Maine Real Estate Insider
Recent Articles
Fueling Innovation: Maine’s Strategic Support for Manufacturing Businesses
By: Samantha Pedersen CPA, Director, Albin, Randall & Bennett Maine’s manufacturing sector is receiving a significant boost through a series of strategic initiatives and grants aimed at promoting Maine-made products...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Johnson Hall Opera House (Gardiner)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Listen Up! The October 2024 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!
A Conversation with Josh Levy of Waterstone Properties Josh Levy, Principal & Co-Founder of Waterstone Properties, sits down with MEREDA President Shannon Richards for the fourth episode in the second...
Read Article Archive
MEREDA Opens Registration for its Annual Forecast Conference
Registration is open for the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) Annual Forecast Conference and Member Showcase, which will take place on February 27, 2025. The popular annual event...
Read Article Fueling Innovation: Maine’s Strategic Support for Manufacturing Businesses
By: Samantha Pedersen CPA, Director, Albin, Randall & Bennett Maine’s manufacturing sector is receiving a significant boost through a series of strategic initiatives and grants aimed at promoting Maine-made products...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Johnson Hall Opera House (Gardiner)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Listen Up! The October 2024 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!
A Conversation with Josh Levy of Waterstone Properties Josh Levy, Principal & Co-Founder of Waterstone Properties, sits down with MEREDA President Shannon Richards for the fourth episode in the second...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on the Homeless Services Center (Portland)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Listen Up! The September 2024 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!
A Legislative Update with Attorney Jason Howe and Senator Matt Pouliot Jason Howe, an attorney at Preti Flaherty and Co-Chair of MEREDA’s Public Policy Committee, and Matt Pouliot, a realtor...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Northeastland Hotel (Presque Isle)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Signs of a Stabilizing Rental Market
By: Ben Sprague, Senior Vice President/Commercial Lender, First National Bank After several frustrating years of frenzied activity, there are signs the rental market is stabilizing. To be sure, rents are...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Phoenix Flats (Portland)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Unveiling the Transformative Power of AI in the Modern Workplace
By: Stephanie Brock, RED THREAD, VP & GM Maine In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption isn’t just reshaping workplace dynamics; it’s ushering in a new era of...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Maine Savings Amphitheater (Bangor)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article MEREDA Releases The MEREDA Index Report for 2023
MEREDA has released its 18th edition of the MEREDA Index. As a key economic indicator for Maine, the MEREDA Index measures the pulse of the state’s real estate industry and...
Read Article Listen Up! The July 2024 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!
A Conversation with Mandy Reynolds and Sean Ireland from The Grant From The Grant, Sean Ireland, a Principal at Windward Development, and Mandy Reynolds, a real estate development consultant, sit...
Read Article In Maine, Evolution Drives Economic Prosperity
By: James W. Dinkle, Executive Director, FirstPark Maine’s economy is strong, and the proof is in the proverbial pudding. In fact, our state economy is one of the strongest in...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on University of Southern Maine Portland Commons Residence Hall and McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success (Portland)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Bad for Business…
By: Justin Lamontagne, CCIM, SIOR, Partner | Designated Broker, The Dunham Group The year was 2011, and a young, ambitious broker received a lead on a 30,000 SF industrial tenant...
Read Article Listen Up! The June 2024 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!
A Conversation with Shannon Richards, Incoming President of MEREDA Incoming President of MEREDA Shannon Richards sits with current MEREDA President Craig Young and immediate past President Josh Fifield for the...
Read Article Maine Real Estate & Development Association Recognizes Top 7 Notable Projects of 2023
The Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA), the state’s leading organization promoting responsible real estate development, honored projects from Portland to Bangor to Presque Isle, with each receiving special...
Read Article Penciling the Future: MEREDA Spring Conference Highlights Opportunities for Developing Projects Aligned with Maine’s Needs
On Wednesday, May 15th, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) hosted its annual Spring Conference where close to 300 real estate professionals gathered at the Holiday Inn By...
Read Article The Greater Portland Retail Forecast for 2024
On February 29th, 2024, Peter Harrington of Malone Commercial Brokers presented “The Greater Portland retail forecast for 2024” at the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) 2024 Annual Forecast...
Read Article Listen Up! The May 2024 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!
A Conversation with Mark Dion, Mayor of Portland Mayor of Portland Mark Dion sits down with MEREDA President Craig Young and MEREDA Board Member and MaineHousing’s Senior Director of Government...
Read Article RECAP OF FEBRUARY 29, 2024 MEREDA REGIONAL FORECAST
By Chris Paszyc, CCIM, SIOR | The Boulos Company – Partner, Broker On February 29th Chris Paszyc participated on the “Regional Outlook” Panel at the Maine Real Estate & Development...
Read Article MEREDA Recognizes Contributions to Real Estate Development and Policy in Maine in Award Ceremony
On February 29, 2024, the Maine Real Estate and Development Association (MEREDA) recognized three remarkable individuals and a Joint Select Committee for their significant and lasting contributions to real estate...
Read Article MEREDA’s Forecast Conference Highlights a Robust Real Estate Industry Full of Collaboration & Innovation
On Thursday, February 29th, over 800 of Maine’s real estate and development professionals gathered at the Holiday Inn By the Bay to learn about the latest trends and predictions for...
Read Article Factors Affecting the Value of a Company
By: BerryDunn Professionals, Casey Karlsen, Senior Manager | CFA, ASA and Seth Webber, Principal | CFA, ASA, CEPA Consider the value of the following two hypothetical companies. Anita owns A+...
Read Article MEREDA Leaps into 2024 with an Updated Forecast Conference
On Thursday, February 29, 2024, leaders from across Maine’s real estate industry will gather for the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) Forecast Conference and Member Showcase. This annual...
Read Article Listen Up! The February 2024 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!
A Thoughtful Conversation with Rebecca Hatfield, President & CEO of Avesta Housing, and Ed Gardner, Broker/Owner of Gardner Real Estate Group Rebecca Hatfield, President & CEO of Avesta Housing, and...
Read Article OSHA Recordkeeping Requirements
OSHA Injury and Illness Recordkeeping and Reporting – Post Form 300A by February 1 Brought to you by the Safety & Risk Consulting Team at Clark Insurance & Marsh McLennan...
Read Article Construction Technology Trends
By David V. Jean, CPA, CCIFP, CExP |Principal, Albin Randall & Bennett Contractors have always had to keep a close watch on technology trends to stay on the leading edge...
Read Article Listen Up! The January 2024 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!
A Conversation with Jeanne Hulit of Maine Community Bank and Steve deCastro of Gorham Savings Bank Jeanne Hulit, President and CEO of Maine Community Bank, and Steve deCastro, President and...
Read Article Listen Up! The January 2024 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!
A Conversation with Jeanne Hulit of Maine Community Bank and Steve deCastro of Gorham Savings Bank Jeanne Hulit, President and CEO of Maine Community Bank, and Steve deCastro, President and...
Read Article Coworking in Modern Business: Evolving Trend or Here to Stay
By Cameron Foster, Associate Broker, The Boulos Company Merriam-Webster defines coworking as the practice of working within a shared building, where multiple tenants rent working spaces such as desks or...
Read Article Listen Up! The November 2023 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!
A Legislative Update on Housing with Senator Matt Pouliot and Representative Traci Gere Maine Senator Matt Pouliot of Augusta and House Representative Traci Gere of Kennebunk sit down with MEREDA...
Read Article 4 ways to plan for a better 1031 exchange process
By: Dannielle Lewis, Teri Samples | Partners at Wipfli 1031 exchanges are common in the real estate world. However, they are often wrought with hidden complexity that can quickly send...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Freedom Place at 66 State Street (Portland)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Freedom Place at 66 State Street (Portland)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Listen Up! The October 2023 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!
An Economic Outlook with Ken Entenmann, Chief Economist at NBT Bank Ken Entenmann, Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Office and Chief Economist at NBT Bank, sits down with MEREDA President...
Read Article Listen Up! The October 2023 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!
An Economic Outlook with Ken Entenmann, Chief Economist at NBT Bank Ken Entenmann, Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Office and Chief Economist at NBT Bank, sits down with MEREDA President...
Read Article Downtown Portland Class A Office 2023 Mid-Year Update
By Samantha Marinko | Associate, The Boulos Company This time last year, I made reference to “the current stalemate in the market,” referring to the minuscule variance in the vacancy...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on the Reconstruction & Reuse of Historic Building 12 (Portland)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on the Reconstruction & Reuse of Historic Building 12 (Portland)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Listen Up! The September 2023 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!
New Trends in Housing Design: A Conversation with Ryan Senatore, AIA LEED AP, & Will Savage, P.E. Will Savage, President of Acorn Engineering and Ryan Senatore, Principal of Ryan Senatore...
Read Article Listen Up! The September 2023 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!
New Trends in Housing Design: A Conversation with Ryan Senatore, AIA LEED AP, & Will Savage, P.E. Will Savage, President of Acorn Engineering and Ryan Senatore, Principal of Ryan Senatore...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Shipyard Brewing Redevelopment (Portland)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Shipyard Brewing Redevelopment (Portland)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Highlighting the Construction Component of the 2023 MEREDA Index
On May 25, Drew Wing, President of Zachau Construction, was a commentator for the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) 2023 MEREDA Index. Drew’s comments on the Construction Sector...
Read Article Listen Up! The August 2023 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!
A Conversation with Josh Miranda, Owner of the Miranda Restaurant Group. Josh Miranda, Owner of Miranda Restaurant Group, sits down with MEREDA Board Member Josh Soley and MEREDA President Craig...
Read Article Listen Up! The August 2023 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!
A Conversation with Josh Miranda, Owner of the Miranda Restaurant Group. Josh Miranda, Owner of Miranda Restaurant Group, sits down with MEREDA Board Member Josh Soley and MEREDA President Craig...
Read Article Highlighting the Residential Component of the 2023 MEREDA Index
On May 25, Leanne Nichols, a Broker with Keller Williams Realty, was a commentator for the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) 2023 MEREDA Index. Leanne’s comments on the...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Gauvreau Place (Lewiston)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Gauvreau Place (Lewiston)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Maximizing energy tax credits for RE developers
By Anita S. Mahamed, Dannielle Lewis, Teri Samples | Partners at Wipfli The real estate industry can greatly benefit from energy tax credits and the changes made in the Inflation...
Read Article Highlighting the Commercial Component of the 2023 MEREDA Index
On May 25, Stephen Nahley, Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel, East Brown Cow, was a commentator for the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) 2023 MEREDA Index. Stephen’s...
Read Article Listen Up! The July 2023 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!
A Conversation with Sonja Trauss, YIMBY Activist and Responsible Housing Advocate Sonja Trauss, Executive Director of Yes in My Back Yard (YIMBY), sits down with MEREDA Vice President Shannon Richards...
Read Article Listen Up! The July 2023 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!
A Conversation with Sonja Trauss, YIMBY Activist and Responsible Housing Advocate Sonja Trauss, Executive Director of Yes in My Back Yard (YIMBY), sits down with MEREDA Vice President Shannon Richards...
Read Article Maine’s Housing Shortage Conundrum
By John Finegan | Associate Broker, The Boulos Company Like many states across the country, Maine has a housing crisis. The ripple effects of COVID and the needs of asylum...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Lincoln Hotel & Lofts (Biddeford)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Lincoln Hotel & Lofts (Biddeford)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Maine Real Estate & Development Association Awards Top 7 Notable Projects of 2022
The Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA), the state’s leading organization promoting responsible real estate development, honored projects from Portland to Biddeford to Bangor, with each receiving special recognition at...
Read Article Maine Real Estate & Development Association Awards Top 7 Notable Projects of 2022
The Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA), the state’s leading organization promoting responsible real estate development, honored projects from Portland to Biddeford to Bangor, with each receiving special recognition...
Read Article Building Solutions: MEREDA Spring Conference Tackles Housing Crisis
PORTLAND, Maine – On Thursday, May 25th, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) hosted its annual Spring Conference where some 300 real estate professionals gathered at the Holiday...
Read Article Interest Rates Take a Bite Out of Real Estate in 2022: 2023 MEREDA Index Unveiled at Spring Conference
On May 25th, over 300 real estate insiders gathered both in-person at the Holiday Inn By the Bay and virtually for the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA) annual...
Read Article MEREDA’s Annual 2023 Spring Conference: Solving Maine’s Housing Crisis
In Person OR Virtual. Pre-Registration Required. Where: Holiday Inn By the Bay 88 Spring Street Portland, ME When: May 25, 2023 @ 1:00 – 5:00 PM About the Event: Maine’s...
Read Article Solving Maine’s Housing Crisis
MEREDA to Host Dynamic Panel Discussion at Spring Conference PORTLAND, Maine – On May 25, 2023, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) will host a vital and forward-looking...
Read Article Listen up! The May 2023 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available
Brit Vitalius, President of Rental Housing Alliance (RHA) and Principal at Vitalius Real Estate Group, and Jessica James, Principal at Longfellow Communications, sit down with MEREDA Board Member Gary Vogel...
Read Article The 2023 Maine Capital Markets Outlook
By Chris Paszyc, CCIM, SIOR | The Boulos Company – Partner, Broker 2022 was the tale of two halves. I harken back to the 2017 Superbowl where the Patriots were...
Read Article MEREDA’s Annual 2023 Spring Conference: Solving Maine’s Housing Crisis; is May 25th
Maine’s Housing Crisis is characterized by a shortage of affordable housing options, a high demand for rental properties, and an increase in housing costs that exceed wage growth. This crisis...
Read Article C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) Financing – Now Available in Maine
by Michael Doty | Mar 20, 2023 | Blog, Market Growth, News, Thought Leadership Efficient financing mechanism will enable property owners and developers to fund sustainability measures in commercial real...
Read Article Insurance Market Rate Trends, challenges and solutions
USI Insurance Services’ 2023 Commercial P&C Market Outlook by: USI and its National Team PROPERTY Anticipated Market Trends for 2023 Challenges will continue in 2023 for risks with significant exposure...
Read Article How did the Maine Real Estate Market Fare in 2022 with Interest Rates Rising and the Covid-Driven Frenzy Easing?
by: Dava Davin, Founder + CEO, Portside Real Estate Group The residential home market in Maine (single family and condo sales) in 2022 was almost $8 billion, a decrease from...
Read Article 2023 Top Commercial Real Estate Trends
by Craig Young, CCIM – Partner / Sr. Broker, The Boulos Company Take advantage of these commercial trends to maximize your profit. We are still seeing the ripple effect in...
Read Article Listen Up! The March 2023 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!
A Conversation with Dan Brennan of MaineHousing & Kevin Bunker of Developers Collaborative Kevin Bunker, Founder and Principal at Developers Collaborative, and Dan Brennan, Director at MaineHousing, sit down with...
Read Article Beginning a Development Relationship with MaineHousing
On November 30, 3022, MaineHousing Senior Director of Finance and Lending, Adam Krea, and Director of Development, Mark Wiesendanger, presented at a MEREDA event, discussing new programs at MaineHousing that...
Read Article Greater Portland Retail Market Vacancy Rates Continue to Drop
By Peter Harrington, Partner & Associate Broker, Malone Commercial Brokers The Greater Portland retail market continued to remain on solid footing in 2022. The Vacancy Rate dropped about 1% from...
Read Article Is Winter coming?
By: Justin Lamontagne, CCIM, SIOR, The Dunham Group For years now, I’ve had client after hopeful client ask if things were “cooling off” in the industrial market. And my answer...
Read Article MEREDA Recognizes Four Exceptional Individuals for Their Contributions to Real Estate Development and Policy in Maine
On January 26, 2023, the Maine Real Estate and Development Association (MEREDA) recognized four exceptional individuals for their significant and lasting contributions to real estate development in the State of...
Read Article Peaks & Plateaus: MEREDA’s Forecast Conference Gives Context to Maine’s Real Estate Data
PORTLAND, Maine–On Thursday, January 26, over 800 of Maine’s real estate and development professionals gathered at the Cross Insurance Arena to learn about the latest trends and predictions for the...
Read Article MEREDA Kicks Off 2023 With Its Forecast Conference
On Thursday, January 26, 2023, leaders from across Maine’s real estate industry will gather for the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) Forecast Conference and Member Showcase. This annual...
Read Article MEREDA Kicks Off 2023 With Its Forecast Conference
On Thursday, January 26, 2023, leaders from across Maine’s real estate industry will gather for the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) Forecast Conference and Member Showcase. This annual...
Read Article HOW TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF YOUR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
by Craig Young, The Boulos Co. Partner/Senior Broker These savvy tips will help you get the most out of your investment For those in the commercial real estate business, it...
Read Article Deadline Extended for Nominations for 2022 Notable Project Awards
Nominations are still being accepted for MEREDA’s Notable Project Awards. The recipients will be recognized at our Annual Spring Conference in 2023. In order to be considered, all projects must be...
Read Article Maine is readying new public-private financing tool to facilitate “green” development
Commercial property assessed clean energy (C-PACE) financing has enabled at least $2 billion of energy-saving upgrades in other states, but Maine bankers fear it will bring added risk to mortgage...
Read Article MEREDA Inducts Four Exceptional Individuals to Honorary Board as Directors Emeritus
PORTLAND, Maine — On November 3, 2022, the Maine Real Estate and Development Association (MEREDA) inducted four exceptional individuals to their Honorary Board as Directors Emeritus. The MEREDA Board of...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Deering Place
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Election day is next week. We encourage you to vote and make your voice heard!
On November 8, 2022, Portland voters will consider 13 ballot questions, consisting of five proposed Citizen’s Initiative questions and eight proposed Portland Charter Commission questions. These 13 questions, an unusually...
Read Article The Winners of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022: Real Estate Developers
Part One: New Incentives By Kory Reynolds, Senior Manager, Baker Newman Noyes October 2022 This is the first of a two-part series discussing the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Children’s Museum + Theatre
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on 40 Free Street (Portland)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article MEREDA’s Morning Menu – The Future of Portland’s Waterfront
MEREDA has invited two prominent wharf developers, Steve Goodrich, owner of Maine Wharf and Custom House Wharf, and Don Perkins, President and CEO of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Harnois & Emery Apartments (Westbrook)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Lewiston-Auburn Multifamily Market Update
By Noah Stebbins, Associate Broker, The Boulos Company The multi-family market is always evolving. Rising interest rates, inflation, and government policies have caused some commercial real estate investors to re-trade...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Riverdam (Biddeford)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Highlighting the Construction Component of the 2022 MEREDA Index
On May 24, Shannon Richards, Founder of Hay Runner, was a commentator for the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) 2022 MEREDA Index. Shannon’s comments on the Commercial Sector...
Read Article Highlighting the Residential Component of the 2022 MEREDA Index
On May 24, Dan Brennan, Director of MaineHousing, was a commentator for the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) 2022 MEREDA Index. Dan’s comments on the Residential Sector follow...
Read Article Easing the potential burden of abandoned 401(k) accounts
By David Stone, Manager | CPA, MBA, CFE at BerryDunn Read this if you are a plan sponsor of a 401(k) plan. The trend of US workers leaving their jobs...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Thornton Heights Commons (South Portland)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Office Conversion Projects And A Plan to Make Them Affordable
By Nate Stevens, Partner, Broker, The Boulos Company When discussing the current and future status of the commercial real estate market, no topic is more heavily debated and difficult to...
Read Article Highlighting the Commercial Component of the 2022 MEREDA Index
On May 24, Katie Allen, a Broker at The Dunham Group, was a commentator for the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) 2022 MEREDA Index. Katie’s comments on the...
Read Article Innovating with Materials
By Matthew Bronski, P.E., Principal, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Mankind has innovated with design and construction methods and materials since Homo Habilis laid one flat stone horizontally across two upright...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Harold Alfond Hall (Bangor)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity: MEREDA Spring Conference Does Deep Dive Into the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
On Tuesday, May 24th, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) hosted its annual Spring Conference where some 200 real estate professionals gathered at the Holiday Inn By the...
Read Article New Horizons in Housing
What Public Law 2021, Chapter 672 (LD 2003), the “Housing Act” Means for Maine Overview LD 2003, signed into law by the Governor on April 27, 2022 as Public Law...
Read Article It’s a good time to review your IT security plan
by Joshua Fifield, CPCU, AAI, Vice President, Senior Account Executive, Business Insurance Agent, Clark Insurance We have been experiencing unpredicted cyber liability claims since the start of the pandemic, from...
Read Article Maine Contractor Licensing and Regulation Fails Again in the Maine Legislature
By Michael R. Bosse, Shareholder, Bernstein Shur If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. LD 1977, a proposed bill titled “Registration for General Contractors for Home Improvement...
Read Article Has COVID made a permanent shift to Maine’s real estate market?
By Dava Davin, Founder + CEO, Portside Real Estate Group Maine’s residential real estate market (condos + single family homes) was a $8.7 billion market in 2021, a 22% increase...
Read Article With PFAS, shocking headlines are just the beginning
By Keith Taylor, L.G., P.G., Technical Lead and Senior Environmental Geologist at St.Germain Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), widely known as “forever chemicals,” are threatening communities here in Maine and...
Read Article Midcoast Maine is Having a Moment
By Dave Holman, MBA, Associate Broker – ReMax Riverside On January 20th Dave presented the “Midcoast Maine Market Forecast” at the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) 2022 Annual...
Read Article Greater Portland Office Market Outlook – 2022
By Nate Stevens, Partner / Broker, The Boulos Company On January 20th Nate presented the “Greater Portland Office Market Forecast” at the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) 2022...
Read Article Greater Portland Industrial Real Estate Market Update – 2022
By Justin Lamontagne, CCIM, SIOR, Partner | Designated Broker, The Dunham Group On January 20th Justin presented the “Greater Portland Industrial Market Forecast” at the Maine Real Estate & Development...
Read Article Stormwater Compliance: A Guide for Maine Businesses
Businesses play a large role in protecting Maine’s environment, including our land and wildlife, and stormwater compliance is a big part of that. In this article, we’ll break down the...
Read Article MEREDA Recognizes Four Outstanding Individuals for Their Contributions to Real Estate Development and Policy in Maine
On January 20, 2022, the Maine Real Estate and Development Association (MEREDA) recognized four outstanding individuals for their significant and lasting contributions to real estate development in the State of...
Read Article MEREDA’s Forecast Conference Highlights the Story of Supply & Demand in Maine Real Estate
On Thursday, January 20, over 600 of Maine’s real estate and development professionals gathered both virtually and in-person at the Cross Insurance Arena to learn about the latest trends and...
Read Article Legislative Commission on Housing Opportunities Releases Recommendations to Alleviate Barriers to Housing Development
Maine has a housing crisis – there is not enough affordable, efficient, or convenient housing to support a sustainable economic future in our State. To begin to address this issue,...
Read Article MEREDA Panel: Vertical Harvest plants a seed in Downtown Westbrook
Last month, at the Maine Real Estate and Development (MEREDA) hosted “Morning Menu” roundtable, Moderator, Craig Young, Partner & Broker at The Boulos Company, and MEREDA Vice President, talked with...
Read Article The Post-Pandemic Business Model: What Construction Companies Need to Thrive During COVID-19
By David Jean, Principal, Albin Randall & Bennett As a contractor, your work requires logical forethought and mathematical precision. After all, you measure twice, cut once, right? In this industry,...
Read Article How to Manage Your Second Property During the Off-Season
Article provided by Clark Insurance A vacation home is great when you need to escape, but maintenance can be a headache – especially when you are not there for prolonged...
Read Article May the “blended workforce be with you”: Policy and internal control considerations for a new era
by: Kaylyn Landry, Senior Manager | CPA, MSA at BerryDunn & David Stone, Manager | CPA, MBA, CFE at BerryDunn Read this if you have a blended workforce with both...
Read Article MEREDA panel: Developers take on emerging trends in Southern Maine
The demand for mixed-use spaces is trending upwards in Southern Maine, experts shared in a panel in September. Speaking at a Maine Real Estate and Development (MEREDA) “Morning Menu” roundtable,...
Read Article November Federal Advocacy Alert: Historic Tax Credit Provision
Update courtesy of Greater Portland Landmarks Historic Tax Credit Provisions REMOVED from bill! Last week, a new iteration of the reconciliation infrastructure bill was released and was significantly reduced in...
Read Article How Contractors Can Avoid 10 Common Exit Planning Mistakes
by David Jean, CPA, CCIFP, CExP, Principal at Albin, Randall & Bennett Exiting your business requires long-term, comprehensive planning, whether you plan to pass your company to family members, sell your...
Read Article Capital Markets: Where do we stand and where are we going?
By Jon Rizzo, Partner, The Boulos Company As we stand today, investment properties are in high demand, which is a result of low interest rates and pent-up demand from the...
Read Article Like-Kind Exchanges Present a Number of Tax Deferral Options Part 3 of 3
By S. Andrew Smith, CPA, Principal, Baker Newman Noyes This article is the last in a 3-part series on the mechanics and tax benefits of Like Kind Exchanges In Part...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Puritan Medical COVID –Building Expansion (P2)
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Stabilizing Long-Term Housing Costs and Creating Permanent Workforce Housing
On June 17, 2021, MEREDA presented a virtual presentation titled, “Creating New Affordable Housing through Limited Equity Housing Cooperatives”. Below is an article focusing on this same topic. By Harry...
Read Article The Faulty Workmanship Exclusion in Builder’s Risk Insurance Measure Thrice, Cut Once
By George F. Burns, Shareholder, Bernstein Shur Builder’s risk insurance is perhaps the least understood insurance product in the construction world. Even sophisticated construction participants are not quite sure what...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on One Merchants Plaza
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Like-Kind Exchanges Present a Number of Tax Deferral Options Part 2 of 3
By S. Andrew Smith, CPA, Principal, Baker Newman Noyes This article is the second in a 3-part series on the mechanics and tax benefits of Like Kind Exchanges In Part...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Solterra
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Escalation Clause: An Escape from the Price-Spike Trap
By Jason G. Howe, Partner, Preti Flaherty Anyone in real estate development would have to be living under a rock not to know about skyrocketing lumber and material prices in...
Read Article Highlighting the Construction Component of the 2021 MEREDA Index
On May 20, Drew Sigfridson, SIOR, Managing Director at The Boulos Company, was a commentator for the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) 2021 MEREDA Index. Drew’s comments on...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Rock Row Phase 1 Retail Center
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article MEREDA’s Year in Review for 2020-2021
Since its inception, MEREDA has continued to make progress on behalf of the development community addressing the challenges and issues relating to Maine’s real estate activities. MEREDA’s strength has always...
Read Article Highlighting the Residential Component of the 2021 MEREDA Index
On May 20, Joe Dasco, Principal at Reger Dasco Properties, was a commentator for the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) 2021 MEREDA Index. Joe’s comments on the Residential...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Hospice of Southern Maine
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article Like-Kind Exchanges Present a Number of Tax Deferral Options
By S. Andrew Smith, CPA, Principal, Baker Newman Noyes This article is the first in a 3-part series on the mechanics and tax benefits of Like Kind Exchanges Internal Revenue...
Read Article Highlighting the Commercial Component of the 2021 MEREDA Index
On May 20, Cheri Bonawitz, CCIM, a Broker at Malone Commercial Brokers, was a commentator for the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) 2021 MEREDA Index. Cheri’s comments on...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on 82 Hanover Street
Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state’s most “noteworthy and significant” real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects...
Read Article MEREDA Awards Top 6 Notable Projects of 2020
The Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA), the state’s leading organization promoting responsible real estate development, honored projects from Portland to Pittsfield to Bangor, with each receiving special recognition...
Read Article MEREDA Index Provides Dynamic Data & Perspectives of a Historic Year
Over 230 real estate insiders registered to gather virtually for the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA) Spring Conference on May 20th. As part of the Conference, MEREDA released...
Read Article From a Record-Breaking Residential Market to a Rebounding Commercial Market – MEREDA Spring Conference Examines the Health of Maine Real Estate
On Thursday, May 20th, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) hosted its virtual Spring Conference. As we head into summer amidst record-breaking residential real estate sales, a robust...
Read Article Spotlight on Maine: News from the City of Auburn
By Liz Allen, Director of Communications & Community Engagement, City of Auburn, Maine | Photo Credit: Liz Allen AUBURN COMMITS TO GROWTH, QUALITY & INVESTMENT Exciting things are happening in...
Read Article Greater Portland Industrial Real Estate Market Update
By Justin Lamontagne, CCIM, SIOR, Partner | Designated Broker, NAI The Dunham Group On January 21st Justin presented the “Industrial Market Forecast” at the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s...
Read Article Central Maine Real Estate Weathering Pandemic, Poised For Growth
By Frank Carr, Assistant Broker, MRA The 2020 real estate market in central Maine has faced pandemic-related challenges just like the rest of the world. The good news: while the market...
Read Article Midcoast Maine Market Forecast
By Dave Holman, Broker, RE/MAX Riverside Commercial On January 21st Dave Holman, Broker at RE/MAX Riverside Commercial, presented the “Midcoast Maine Market Forecast” at the Maine Real Estate & Development...
Read Article The Greater Portland Retail Forecast
By Peter Harrington, Partner & Associate Broker, Malone Commercial Brokers On January 21st Peter Harrington, Malone Commercial Brokers, presented the “Greater Portland Retail Forecast” at the Maine Real Estate &...
Read Article How to comply with Maine’s new paid leave law
by: Laura A. Rideout, Partner, Preti Flaherty Article originally published on November 13, 2020 Fittingly, “Vacation Land” is among a small contingent of states that have a paid leave law...
Read Article Pandemic brings new realtors and new perspectives to Maine
By Dava Davin, Founder + CEO, Portside Real Estate Group Article originally published December 4, 2020 When we first saw headlines about COVID-19 in early 2020, we had no idea...
Read Article How COVID 19 Affected Commercial Lending
In many ways, the beginning of 2020 was the best of times for commercial lenders – stable rates, lots of deal flow and few loan delinquencies. That would quickly deteriorate...
Read Article A Fantastic Group of Five: MEREDA Honors Leaders in Real Estate and Development at Recent Forecast Conference
On January 21, 2021, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognized five exceptional individuals for their significant and lasting contributions to real estate development in the state of...
Read Article Focusing on the Adaptability and Resiliency of Maine, MEREDA Brings Real Estate Experts Together to Forecast the Future
On Thursday, January 21, over 500 of Maine’s real estate and development professionals gathered virtually to learn about the latest insights on the real estate economy at the Maine Real...
Read Article Maine market snapshot: “Bump in the road” is a sign most Mainers have seen many times before
by: Sam LeGeyt, Broker, NAI The Dunham Group “Bump in the Road” is unfortunately a sign that most Mainers have seen many times before. As Mainers we’re not uncomfortable with...
Read Article Residential Evictions and the Pandemic – Landlords Beware
NOTE: This article addresses the Executive Orders, Pandemic Management Order, and CDC Order in effect on November 3, 2020. As the pandemic changes, these orders are all subject to change and...
Read Article The State of Retail: Permanently Damaged or Poised for a Comeback?
by: Joseph Italiaander, Associate, The Boulos Company Among other things, 2020 has provided plenty of alarming headlines surrounding the state of the retail market. Perhaps what stands out the most...
Read Article Business Interest Limitation Modifications
By Josh Lapierre, CPA, MBA, Senior Manager, Baker Newman Noyes April 1, 2020 Updated as of April 14, 2020 This article was updated on April 14 to include provisions in...
Read Article OSHA COVID 19 Update
Article courtesy of Clark Insurance Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have now been found in nearly all parts of the country, and outbreaks among workers in industries other than healthcare, emergency...
Read Article MEREDA Conference Focuses on the Dynamic History and Future Potential of Maine’s Economy
On October 15th, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) hosted its virtual 2020 Fall Conference. In challenging economic times, the event brought together industry leaders to contemplate Maine’s...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on WEX Global Corporate Headquarters, Portland
In a multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Station Square, Gorham
In a multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Southgate, Scarborough
In a multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article Business Interruption Insurance and COVID-19
By Conor Shankman, Associate, Bernstein Shur Few industries or aspects of business have been left untouched by COVID-19 and the resulting economic closures. Though construction was permitted to continue in...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Hannaford Center, Hampden
In a multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Cape Arundel Cottage Preserve, Arundel
In a multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article What’s Happening in the Market?
Market Insights By The Boulos Company Brokerage Team Because of the uncertainty in the business climate, our brokers are regularly asked what is happening in the commercial real estate market,...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Founders Place Campus, Bangor
In a multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article Industrial Market Mid-Year Review
by Justin Lamontagne, CCIM, SIOR, Partner, Designated Broker at NAI The Dunham Group How’s the market? It is the most common question asked of any commercial broker in these trying...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on 62 Spring Street, Auburn
In a multi-part series exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article Depreciable Life of Qualified Improvement Property
By John Hadwen, CPA, Principal, Baker Newman Noyes April 1, 2020 (A long overdue technical amendment) Updated as of April 22, 2020 This article was updated on April 22 to...
Read Article The Outstanding Seven: MEREDA’s 2019 Notable Project Recipients
PORTLAND, ME – July 13, 2020 – Every spring, MEREDA recognizes the most noteworthy and significant Maine commercial development projects from the previous year, all of which embody the Association’s mission...
Read Article Maine Real Estate & Development Association Names New President and Announces 2020-2022 Officers
Portland resident, Josh Fifield, a Senior Account Executive in the Business Insurance Department of Clark Insurance is the new president of the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA), a statewide organization...
Read Article Maine Issues COVID-19 Guidance for Town Meetings
Throughout the pandemic, MEREDA members have navigated participating in various town public proceedings conducted virtually. Now, with the opening of municipal buildings and the need to accommodate municipal matters requiring...
Read Article Construction Businesses: Navigating State and Federal COVID-19 Workplace Safety Requirements
On April 28, Governor Mills released Restarting Maine’s Economy, which lays out a plan for re-opening non-essential businesses. Businesses that were previously deemed essential, including construction businesses, may continue operations...
Read Article Legislative Update from Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA)
While much has changed in the world in the past months, the MEREDA Public Policy Committee has continued to stay engaged on critical matters impacting our members. From ensuring a...
Read Article Real Estate as an Essential Business – DECD Guidance and City of Portland Restrictions on Real Estate Activities
On April 15, 2020 the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) released new guidance related to the operations of real estate as an essential business during the COVID-19...
Read Article Pandemic Leaves Landlords in a Difficult Position
by: Gary D. Vogel, Attorney, Drummond Woodsum, MEREDA President The coronavirus pandemic is affecting everyone. Many businesses are shut down, or are minimally operating. The CARES Act recently adopted by...
Read Article Maine Home Prices – Where do we go from here?
by: Dava Davin, Principal, Portside Real Estate Group When I presented at the 2020 MEREDA Real Estate Forecast Conference in January, I was full of good news and positivity in...
Read Article Message from MEREDA’s President
To our Members: What a challenging time we find ourselves in! First and foremost, I hope this email finds you, your family, loved ones and coworkers safe and healthy. We...
Read Article Successful CEO’s Look Back to Prepare Forward
by George E Casey Jr., Chief Executive Officer, Stockbridge Associates, LLC General Patton said he hated paying for the same real estate twice. You should feel the same about paying...
Read Article Vital Ideas – The 1031 Dominoes
by Brit Vitalius, Principal, Designated Broker, Vitalius Real Estate Group In 2019, we saw 1031 exchanges used even more frequently than in past years. Interestingly, the variations in the transactions...
Read Article What’s Up in the Hotel Business?
by Sean Riley, President & CEO, Maine Course Hospitality Group Great Ride for Hotels I recall speaking at the MEREDA conference back in 2009. It was a tough year to...
Read Article Construction Trends in 2020
by Asha Echeverria, Shareholder, Bernstein Shur Welcome to the new decade! Though we can expect trends from 2019 to continue, the focus on the new decade and the bull construction...
Read Article The Risks and Regulations Associated with Waterfront Development in Maine
By Gordon Smith, Verrill Waterfront development in Maine is on the rise. While waterfront development has a big investment upside, it can pose additional regulatory challenges and risks. Whether you...
Read Article Stop me if you’ve heard this before
by Justin Lamontagne, CCIM, SIOR, Partner, Designated Broker at NAI The Dunham Group Is it plagiarism if you copy yourself? I hope not, because here goes… “Vacancy rates are getting...
Read Article Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) Recognizes Outstanding Members with Annual Awards
Portland, ME: In a ballroom overflowing with the broad spectrum of Maine’s real estate and development professionals, MEREDA President Gary Vogel singled out five individuals at last week’s annual Forecast...
Read Article “Outlook Good”: MEREDA’s Forecast Conference Calls for Continued Growth
Over 900 of Maine’s real estate and development professionals converged on the Holiday Inn by the Bay Thursday, each one on the hunt for the latest and greatest industry information...
Read Article Safe Harbor Options for Taxpayers as the Solar ITC Begins to Sunset
By Mark Vitello, BerryDunn Read this if you are a solar investor, developer, or installer. The solar carve out of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) has been a great incentive...
Read Article Perceptions of Housing in Maine
By: MaineHousing Staff Housing is a hot topic these days – from affordable housing challenges across Maine, to having enough housing for our communities and businesses to thrive, for aging...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on the Motherhouse
In multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping to...
Read Article Environmental DNA (eDNA): What is eDNA and How Can it Benefit the Development Community
By Gabe Pelletier, Project Technician and Jake Riley, Associate, Stantec What do human beings, Zebra mussels, and Atlantic salmon have in common? They all contain deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in each...
Read Article Maine’s Coming Solar Expansion
On October 29th, a panel of experts gathered in Bangor to participate in MEREDA’s Morning Menu Breakfast event titled, “What You Need to Know about Investing in Solar in Maine”. ...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on the Ballard Center
In multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping to...
Read Article 2019 Greater Portland Mid-Year Office Market Survey
Prepared by Nick Malone, Malone Commercial Brokers The Portland economy has been expanding year after year putting this little big city on the radar for many businesses. The first half...
Read Article Resolution of Disputes: The Pros and Cons of Arbitration and Litigation
By: Richard Gagliuso, Shareholder, Bernstein Shur Disputes are a common, if not inevitable, byproduct of construction projects. Most commercial construction contracts anticipate that disputes may arise by providing a mechanism...
Read Article Understanding Commercial Fire Damage and the Restoration Process
By: Holly Merrill & Barbara Rapoza, SERVPRO of Maine Most property owners know that the worst thing which can happen to them is fire damage. What many do not know...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Topsham Care Center
In multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping to...
Read Article Will homebuilding finally evolve? Lessons from the American experience with factory-built housing
MEREDA’s Spring Conference in May included a keynote presentation by Dr. Lynn Fisher of the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. Dr. Fisher provided both national and state economic data,...
Read Article A Stream or a Ditch? What You Need to Know
By: Joe Roy, Project Technician & Rodney Kelshaw, Project Manager/Project Scientist, Stantec When evaluating a site for purchase or development it is important to understand environmental resources that could affect...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Boothbay Harbor Country Club
In multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping to...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Bill & Joan Alfond Main Street Commons
In multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping to...
Read Article The Evolution of Retail Ownership
By John Meador, Associate Broker, The Boulos Company The consumer retail sector continues to strategize around how to reposition physical stores to offset the growing demand of online shoppers. Many...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Riverview Terrace Apartments
In multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping to...
Read Article Environmental Liability of Former Dry Cleaner Properties
Modern dry cleaning operations today follow strict rules to ensure that the common dry cleaning chemical tetrachloroethene (PCE) is properly managed and disposed of. However, from the 1930s when PCE was...
Read Article MEREDA Brings Together Industry Leaders to Collaborate and Innovate on Housing
On Tuesday, May 7, some 300 members of Maine’s real estate industry gathered in Portland for the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) 2019 Spring Conference on the future...
Read Article Retail Trends Moving Forward in 2019
I was happy to present the Greater Portland Retail portion of the MEREDA 2019 Forecast conference last month in Portland, where we took a look back at 2018 and where...
Read Article Maine’s Affordable Housing Needs Go Through the Roof, Leading to Call for New State Tax Credit
Maine is experiencing a fundamental mismatch between its housing stock and its housing needs, and that mismatch is creating enormous problems for our families and our state’s economic well-being. For...
Read Article The Future of Home Buying
Will technology make real estate transactions a whole lot easier? The number of single-family home transactions in Maine has been flat for the last three years and is not expected...
Read Article Build-to-Recruit
As of August, the unemployment rate was 2.4% in Cumberland County, Maine. At this level, economists will tell you that everyone who wants a job has one. So attracting talent...
Read Article The times they are a changin’
My mind wandered recently while on a long solo drive, as it often does. I had the music cranking and, in typical Maine fashion, cell phone coverage was spotty. It...
Read Article Selecting the Right Project Delivery Method
Identifying the right construction project delivery method is critical to successful execution. Three of the most common delivery methods are Design-Bid-Build, Construction Manager (CM) at Risk, and Design-Build. Each of...
Read Article Four Real Estate Leaders Honored at the MEREDA Forecast Conference in Portland
A record of nearly 1000 of Maine’s real estate professionals gathered on January 17 to hear experts give statewide economic projections at the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA)’s...
Read Article Want to Know What’s Really Happening in Maine Real Estate? The MEREDA Index Has More Than Just The Numbers.
The MEREDA Index, a key economic indicator for the state of Maine, was presented yesterday at the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA) 2019 Annual Forecast Conference. While the...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Huston Commons
In a multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article Thinking about renting space to a marijuana operator? Take care and consider these important caveats.
The marijuana industry poses profitable possibilities and serious challenges to the real estate industry. As Maine continues to work on the regulatory structure of its recreational marijuana marketplace, a land...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on 65 Munjoy Street Condominiums
In a multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article Are you in for a (price) shock?
Compared to where we were ten years ago, the real estate and construction segments of our economy are booming. The uptick in development in hotels, condominiums, apartments and commercial facilities,...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Hodgkins School Apartments
In a multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article Change is Necessary to Propel Housing Forward
In November 2016, I put forth the thesis that the home building industry was reaching the point of severe labor constraint and that new thinking and business models were needed....
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Saco Mill #4
In a multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article START-UP SEEKING SPACE FOR SUBLEASE – How Start-ups Can Benefit From Subleasing
Maine is the home to a plethora of creative minds—entrepreneurs, artists, techies, chefs—it’s a melting pot of talent from all facets nestled comfortably in the northeast corner of New England....
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Cliff House Resort
In a multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article Meet Dan Brennan, New MaineHousing Director
Earlier this year, Dan Brennan was confirmed as the new director of MaineHousing, succeeding John Gallagher who recently retired. Brennan has been with MaineHousing for 25 years, and before his appointment as director, he was Senior...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Huse School Apartments
September 4, 2018 In multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that...
Read Article Homeownership Remains Unaffordable; Rental Affordability Showing Signs of Improvement
August 28, 2018 by Richard E. Taylor, Research Manager at MaineHousing MaineHousing has released the 2017 Maine Homeownership and Rental Affordability Index. The index indicates buying or renting a home...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Aura
In multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article So Do We Have a Deal? Maybe Not
By: Asha Echeverria, Shareholder, LEED AP, Bernstein Shur A written contract signed by both parties is always best. So what happens when negotiations take months and only one side signs...
Read Article Maine Real Estate & Development Association Names New President and Announces 2018-2019 Officers
Gary Vogel, attorney at Drummond Woodsum, is the new president of the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA), a statewide organization of commercial real estate owners, developers and related...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Bayside Anchor
In multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article Tax Reform has Mostly Good News for the Real Estate Industry
By Andrew Smith, Principal, Baker Newman Noyes December’s federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) contains some of the most significant tax law changes seen in decades. Many in...
Read Article Solar Plus Complementary Technologies Leads to an Economical, Sustainable Grid
By Fred Greenhalgh, Employee-Owner ReVision Energy Thanks to over a 75% decline in the cost of solar panels over the last ten years, it’s now economically viable (and environmentally necessary)...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Tyler Technologies
In multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article FocusMaine Underway: a ten-year initiative to create traded jobs in Maine
FocusMaine is now approaching the second year of a ten-year, private sector-led initiative to accelerate the creation of 20,000 quality jobs in Maine. The strategy includes investing in three of...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Luminato Condominiums
In multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article Workforce Challenges – How Innovation Can Help
Last month, nearly 300 members of MEREDA, the trade association for responsible real estate development in Maine, joined together to discuss the challenges facing the industry, which in spite of...
Read Article 7 Steps to Make your Business Relocation a Success
Relocating your business is a complicated process that requires planning, organization and diligence. At CBRE|The Boulos Company we strive to make those transitions for our clients as smooth as possible....
Read Article MEREDA honors top 10 “Notable Projects”
The Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA), the state’s leading organization for responsible real estate development, honored the top ten real estate developments in Maine in 2017, and honored...
Read Article 4 Ways to Prepare Your Business for a Storm
Here in Maine within the last few years we have had to contend with some severe flooding/storms that have interrupted businesses from operating normally. Some of the businesses ended up...
Read Article PAST AS PROLOGUE
by George Casey, CEO of Stockbridge Associates, LLC I admit it. I keep things, particularly written things. I have an old and cracked leather copy of Nathaniel Bowditch’s “American Practical...
Read Article Is the Maine real estate market as hot as it seems?
By Dava Davin, Portside Real Estate Group Is the Maine real estate market as hot as it seems? Yes, yes it is!. With low median days on market, high list...
Read Article The Future of Buildings
by Alan Kuniholm, PDT Architects and Gunnar Hubbard, Thornton Tomasetti We are all involved in the world of real estate. For some of us, it’s our profession. The rest of...
Read Article How Drones Are Helping Traditional Industries Take Flight Into the Future
By Blueprint, presented by CBRE Not long ago, the mere thought of drones was reserved for the military and sci-fi movies. Today, they’ve become a part of everyday conversation among...
Read Article You Can Have It Both Ways: Sound Masking Lets You Have Your Modern Open Office Design and Speech Privacy
by Tim Hooper, President, The Connectivity Group, Inc. According to a recent Boston Globe article, some 80 percent of offices these days are “open.” Open offices generally have the following...
Read Article Tax Reform and the Real Estate Industry
by Greg Bryant, Managing Partner, Bedford Cost Segregation, LLC I started my career in commercial real estate in 1976. Things seemed straightforward then, maybe it was because I was young...
Read Article No room at the inn; low vacancy rates squeeze urban centers
A sell-out crowd of more than 900 were on hand as MEREDA hosted its annual Forecast Conference last month in Portland. This is the largest gathering of commercial real estate...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Young Street Apartments
In multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article Less Parking, More Walking (and Reading and Biking and…)
By Blueprint, presented by CBRE In the not-too-distant-future, it’s predicted that autonomous vehicles will dominate cityscapes and redefine how urbanites commute. By 2030, a quarter of all miles driven in the...
Read Article How To: Sublet your way around a commercial real estate shortage
by Justin Lamontagne, CCIM, Partner | Broker, NAI The Dunham Group Let me paint a picture and it may sound familiar. You are a small business owner in a tight...
Read Article Change or Die: A short game, long game, or no game manifesto from home building guru George Casey.
by George Casey, CEO of Stockbridge Associates, LLC “Depend upon it, sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.” Samuel...
Read Article Portland Question 1. Big bureaucracy that’s bad for affordable housing.
Portland Question 1 – the rent control proposal – is on the ballot for Portland voters’ consideration on November 7. MEREDA believes that if passed, the initiative could have significant...
Read Article MEREDA OPPOSES PORTLAND BALLOT QUESTION 2
A dangerous ballot initiative will be voted upon on November 7 in the City of Portland. Question 2 asks whether voters support a change to the City Code to give...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Meetinghouse Lofts Condominiums
In multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Ridgewood at Village Square
In multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article Has E-commerce Plateaued? An Economist and a Millennial in Conversation
By Blueprint, presented by CBRE Do millennials shop differently than older generations? Are brick and mortar shops fighting back against the rise of e-commerce? Must retailers move online to survive?...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Mission Hill
In multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article 2017 Changes to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Documents
By Mike Bosse, Shareholder, Bernstein Shur Earlier this year, the American Institute of Architects released its new set of 2017 documents into the market. The AIA has long published standard...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Village Centre
In multi-part series exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article MEREDA’s Year in Review 2016 – 2017
Since its inception, MEREDA has continued to make progress on behalf of the development community addressing the challenges and issues relating to Maine’s real estate activities. MEREDA's strength has always...
Read Article MEREDA Continues to Improve Real Estate Development Climate – Succeeds in Changing Two Laws to Streamline Processes and Minimizes Two Fee Increases During 2017 Legislative Session
Based on a survey of MEREDA members in the summer of 2016, MEREDA‘s proactive Public Policy Committee developed legislation to address difficult governmental challenges faced by the real estate development...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on The Lofts at Saco Falls
In multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article The Economic Impact of MaineHousing’s Investment in Affordable Multifamily Housing: State and Regional
by Richard Taylor, Research and Communications, MaineHousing Building housing contributes to the quality of life in a community and its economy. Economic contributions are measured in jobs, wages, revenues, and...
Read Article Is Your Paycheck Protected?
By Kerry Peabody, CSA, CLTC Long Term Care, Life & Disability Insurance Agent You’ve insured your home, your car, your boat – but have you insured the one thing that...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Wayfair at Brunswick Landing
In multi-part series, exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping...
Read Article THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM 2.0
by George Casey, CEO of Stockbridge Associates, LLC Here’s home-building operations guru George Casey’s take on how tech-driven automation will drive into site-built home building sooner than later. My recent...
Read Article Home Building’s ‘Elephant in the Room’ … a manifesto from operations guru George Casey.
by George Casey, CEO of Stockbridge Associates, LLC Over the past several weeks, I have had the opportunity to attend a variety of fall industry conferences: the Urban Land Institute...
Read Article Maine Real Estate & Development Association Awards Top 10 Notable Projects of 2016
The Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recently announced the recipients of its 2016 Notable Projects Awards at its Annual Real Estate Spring Conference. This year’s event, titled “’YIMBY’ism:...
Read Article The Trend Toward Car-Free Cities Is Picking Up Speed
By Blueprint, presented by CBRE When you think about it, car-free cities shouldn’t seem like such a radical idea. Cities, after all, have been around for thousands of years, while...
Read Article Challenges for Marijuana Businesses and their Vendors
by Gretchen L. Jones, Shareholder and Chair, Business Law Practice Group at Eaton Peabody While Maine has legalized marijuana for both medical and recreational use, the conflict between state legalization...
Read Article How to speed up the Commercial Real Estate Appraisal process
When the parties of interest in a commercial real estate transaction finally reach agreement, and financing is a component of the deal, why does it then take so long to...
Read Article 2017 Greater Portland, Maine Industrial Market Snapshot
A “healthy” market is a catchy and common term to describe the current state of the Greater Portland industrial sector. But our experience suggests that the market is only healthy...
Read Article Succession Planning with an Employee Stock Ownership Plan
According to the National Center for Employee Ownership, there are roughly 7,000 true employee stock ownership plans (“ESOPs”) nationwide, covering about 13.5 million employees and holding assets of approximately $1.2...
Read Article Keys to an Effective Environmental Risk Management Program (ERMP)
Managing environmental risk in commercial real estate (CRE) lending can be challenging. Although it’s something the lending community has been doing for decades, it has historically been viewed as unnecessary...
Read Article Maine experts still proclaim Portland “hot,” see growth expanding north
PORTLAND, Maine — The residential real estate market remains hot statewide, with single family sales very solid, according to experts who reviewed trends in the last year of Maine real...
Read Article Office Market Overview
The Greater Portland office market continued to improve in 2016 as the vacancy rate fell for the 7th consecutive year for a direct vacancy of 6.17 percent and total rate...
Read Article Passive House Pushes [& Seals] The Envelope
Making Affordable Housing More Affordable Multifamily housing projects around the state have contributed to an improvement in construction activity post-recession. Hidden among the number of multifamily projects, two developments in...
Read Article The New-Old Humpty Dumpty
Here are 10 trends likely to come amidst a full-circle return to housing finance and economics like it was before homeownership became a policy priority. Humpty Dumpty sat on a...
Read Article When Generations Collide
By Dean Strombom, Principal, Gensler, Houston, TX This is the first time in history when five generations of employees may co-exist in the workplace: the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials or...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Pepperell Mill Campus
In the fifth of a 6-part series exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past...
Read Article OSHA Provides Final Rule on Silicia – Major Changes Likely Ahead for the Construction Industry
On March 24, 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued its final rule on crystalline silica. As many know, everyone has been waiting for this OSHA final rule on...
Read Article How Technology is Disrupting Real Estate
Commercial real estate has historically relied upon in-person interaction to get things done, but an influx of new technology is transforming the space. Now, transactions, updates, searching and more can...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on The Mill at Dover-Foxcroft
In the fourth of a 6-part series exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past...
Read Article The Art of the Donald | Presidential primary politics as a real estate development deal?
Like most of you, I suspect, I have just been shaking my head at what has been going on this Presidential Primary season. As the group Three Dog Night sang...
Read Article How the New Overtime Regulations Will Affect the Real Estate Industry
By now, you’ve likely heard about the Department of Labor’s changes to the federal overtime regulations that will take effect on December 1, 2016. The new rule applies to exempt...
Read Article MEREDA’s Year in Review 2015 -2016
Since its inception, MEREDA has continued to make progress on behalf of the development community addressing the challenges and issues relating to Maine's real estate activities. MEREDA's strength has always...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Capital Judicial Center
In the third of a 6-part series exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past...
Read Article MEREDA Raises Money for Maine Students through Scholarship Fundraiser
On May 5th, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) hosted its Fourth Annual " Strikes for Scholars" Bowl-a-Thon and Silent Auction Fundraising Event at Bayside Bowl in Portland. Thanks to...
Read Article Energy Islanding: Creating Microgrids for Grid Resiliency and On Site Generation
Microgrids are a localized grouping of electricity sources that operate and connect to the centralized grid but can also disconnect and function autonomously. These systems can serve a number of...
Read Article Maine Real Estate & Development Association Names New President and Announces 2016-17 Officers
PORTLAND, Maine (July 19, 2016) Paul Peck, attorney at Drummond & Drummond and real estate developer with LWS Development LLC is the new president of the Maine Real Estate &...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on the Circular Block Building
In the second of a 6-part series exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past...
Read Article Lead Paint and Drinking Water in Maine – Now Under Even More Scrutiny, with More Enforcement and Liability Issues Coming
Lead paint is a well-known problem for older homes, and lead in residential drinking water from historic plumbing is also a recognized issue in Maine. Lead can be a serious...
Read Article 3 Ways to a Faster Commercial Mortgage Loan Decision
When you want to make a real estate investment or re-visit your existing financing, the last thing you want to do is spend your time waiting for a lenders credit...
Read Article Homeownership Remains Affordable; Rentals Less So
MaineHousing has released the 2015 Maine Home Ownership and Rental Affordability Index. This latest index reveals little change in affordability from 2014 to 2015 for both home buyers and renters...
Read Article Construction considerations in the craft beer industry
The explosion of craft brewing in the recent years has created a need for support of breweries from other industries, including construction and real estate. In a study conducted by...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on The Press Hotel
In the first of a 6-part series exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past...
Read Article Historic Masonry Reborn – “The care of historic brick and stone buildings in Maine”
The restoration and repair of historic masonry buildings can be challenging. Owners who are using Historic Tax Credits to help finance their project are required to meet the standards of...
Read Article Lurking just below the surface of the Real Estate Recovery
With all the positive energy and robust investment in Maine’s real estate markets, there is reason to be optimistic if not jubilant about your prospects for success as a developer,...
Read Article New England Market Overview
After a slow and steady recovery it is time to officially say goodbye to the effects of The Great Recession. At this time two years ago the national economy experienced...
Read Article Multi-Family Market Update
The multi-family market is at or near the top of hot real estate sectors in Southern Maine. The dramatic price increases are driven by strong buyer demand, low inventory and...
Read Article Southern Midcoast Commercial Happenings
The Southern MidCoast (Bath-Brunswick-Topsham) region experienced several long years of anxiety in the general real estate direction, both residential and commercial, beginning with the announcement of the base closure for...
Read Article Legal Implications of Using Drones
Drones are used on an increasing basis in many industries, including real estate, farming, law enforcement and certainly in the construction industry. The evolution of the law surrounding drones is...
Read Article Greater Portland, Maine Industrial Market Snapshot
For those of us in the business, the continued drop in vacancy rates is astounding. But the data doesn’t lie, and confirms what we’re feeling on a day-to-day basis. For...
Read Article Maintaining the Market Value of Lakefront Property
Lake Value and Vulnerability Maine lakes are a national treasure. Like magnets, their allure irresistibly draws us to them and makes lakefront property a high value commodity. Most of us...
Read Article Greenleaf and the Legislative Response To It.
This article will discuss the Law Court’s 2014 decision in Bank of America, N.A. v. Greenleaf, 2014 ME 89, and the legislative response to it in 2015. The discussion should...
Read Article START MAKING DENSE: When it comes down to it, housing affordability’s ‘guy behind the tree’ is you and me
When talking about taxes and tax policy, the venerable Louisiana Senator, Russell B. Long, is quoted saying: “Don’t tax you; don’t tax me; tax the guy behind the tree.” The ubiquitous “other...
Read Article Are you Planning for a Highly Collaborative Office Workforce?
Most business professionals have witnessed business telecommunication services shifting rapidly in recent years from traditional fixed (landline) services to mobile-centric services. Professional office planners, architects and commercial building contractors need...
Read Article Year End Planning for Businesses
Is your business ready? Businesses seeking to maximize tax benefits through 2015 year-end tax planning may want to consider several general strategies, such as use of traditional timing techniques for...
Read Article Exaggerations on the Death of the Private Office
Trends in the workplace are changing at an increasing rate – open plan, private, hoteling, third space. Office space can really be reduced to three basic types of work, space...
Read Article Finding Equitable Stormwater Funding
Operational and capital costs associated with stormwater management seem to grow every year, driven higher by increasingly stringent permits, which mandate pollutant load reductions and require increased system resiliency. The...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on The Hyatt Place Portland, Old Port
In the fifth of a 7-part series exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past...
Read Article The “Cap Rate”
You may hear the term “Cap Rate” in discussions or articles involving commercial real estate. Even if you already have an understanding of what the term means, here is a...
Read Article MEREDA Endorses Question 2 on Statewide Ballot, Opposes Question 2 in Portland
MEREDA Endorses Question 2 on Statewide Ballot MEREDA supports Question 2 on the statewide ballot, the Senior Affordable Housing Bond. This bond would authorize the sale of $15 million in...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on The Bay House Condominiums
In the fourth of a 7-part series exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past...
Read Article Do You Have a License For That? When You Need More Than A Handshake
If you own real estate, there may be an occasion when a neighbor, contractor, or someone else seeks a favor. For example, someone may want to temporarily use or pass...
Read Article Emerging workplace challenges: age, weight and drugs
Maine once led the nation in the cost of workers’ compensation insurance but reforms and hard work have changed all that. Since 1992, costs have been cut in half. The...
Read Article Be prepared for the worst by being the best prepared.
With September being National Preparedness Month it’s important to have a game plan in place whether it be for you personally or your business. National Preparedness Month is a campaign...
Read Article Department of Justice Best Practices on Cybersecurity: Guidance for Smaller Organizations
Protecting your business from cyber breaches can be a daunting task. This is especially so with limited budgets and personnel. Most know of the horror stories, some think "it will...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Seaport Village & The Inn at Seaport
In the third of a 7-part series exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past...
Read Article Brand Marketing Positions Businesses for Top Price When Selling
Often times when a business owner decides it’s time to sell his or her company, revenues are on the decline. If your business is upside down because debts exceed assets, then...
Read Article The First Regular Session of the 127th Legislature was exciting and eventful. Read on for a review of the highlights.
Governor Elected with a Strong Vote Last November Governor LePage was re-elected by a larger margin than expected, securing his second term which started January 7, 2015. The governor’s first...
Read Article IRS Form 3115 and Common Area Maintenance Charges
Is it a tenant-paid repair or a landlord-paid capital expenditure? This is an important question for landlords and tenants with common area maintenance provisions in their leases. The IRS now...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Courtyard by Marriott
MEREDA: Describe the building and project. J.B. Brown & Sons: The project consists of a 132 room Courtyard by Marriott, 7,000 sf Tiqa restaurant, 14 residential condominium units, and 34...
Read Article Protect your Commercial Real Estate Investment
My father always said, “If it’s worthwhile doing, it’s worthwhile doing right”. As a teenager, it was one of those absolutely grating sayings that usually accompanied some menial assignment or...
Read Article Kick Your Taxes Down the Road with a Like-Kind Exchange
The “like-kind exchange” rules housed in Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 allow taxpayers to defer gain on the sale of a business or investment property if they reinvest in a...
Read Article The Role of the Real Estate Appraiser
What is the role of the real estate Appraiser in a purchase and sale transaction? Why isn’t the contract price used as the measure of market value? Well, for starters,...
Read Article The Lead Poisoning Control Act: What it Means for Maine Landlords
By Rudman Winchell Attorney Jonathan P. Hunter Over eighty percent of all homes built prior to 1978 contain lead-based paint. The Lead Poisoning Control Act, 22 M.R.S. §§ 1314-1329, originally...
Read Article The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Falmouth Schools Redevelopment Project
by Jessica Estes, CBRE | The Boulos Company In the first of a 7-part series exclusive to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, we’ll provide an up-close look at the...
Read Article Maine’s Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit
Paxton recently joined MEREDA members for breakfast in Lewiston to present on how Maine’s Historic Tax Credit has transformed Historic Rehabilitation in the State. Read on to learn more about Maine's Historic...
Read Article MEREDA Brought National Speaker to Maine for Discussion on Consumer Insights for Residential Development Opportunities by Generation
A crowd of Maine’s real estate professionals gathered recently to listen to a renowned national speaker present consumer insights for residential development opportunities by generation. The Maine Real Estate &...
Read Article TechPlace an Exciting Project for the State and Region
In January, the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) opened TechPlace, Brunswick Landing’s Technology Accelerator. TechPlace supports the business development needs of early-stage companies and startups in a shared and collaborative...
Read Article Real Estate Tip: Buyers’ Blues
Buyer beware is an old warning. A recent title insurance case reminds us just how wary a buyer must be, even in 2015. In the case of IQ Holdings, Inc. v....
Read Article Are you ready for IPD?
Successful design and construction projects require multiple parties with specialized expertise to work effectively together for the duration of the project. Often, within the constraints of today’s traditional construction delivery...
Read Article Appraising Real Estate in Maine – Important Regulatory Information
The Maine Board of Real Estate Appraisers (MBREA) was established to protect the public through examination and licensure of persons who wish to conduct real estate appraisals for a fee...
Read Article Donating Real Estate to Charity
Donating real estate to a charitable organization can benefit both the charity and the donor. The tax laws provide several methods for donation of real estate, both during a donor’s...
Read Article Green Building Systems – What is out there
With continued national concern regarding energy costs and environmental efficiency, green building systems allow owners and the public to increase, assess, and understand the environmental and energy efficiency of a...
Read Article The Outlook for Maine’s Economy is Bright
As a key economic indicator for Maine, the MEREDA Index measures the pulse of the state’s real estate industry. The MEREDA Index is the leading way our industry tracks changes in Maine’s...
Read Article Market Conditions Are Driving Company Value Up
Private company owners nearly always focus on the inside attributes of their companies when they think about selling. Do I have a management team that will add value in a...
Read Article Fires Spark Needed Landlord-Tenant Discussions
The recent tragedies of lost lives in Portland and destroyed property in Biddeford due to fires have landlords and tenants talking about safety. The Southern Maine Landlord Association (SMLA) recently...
Read Article Maine’s Real Estate Industry Leaders Project “A New Normal” for 2015 at MEREDA’s Annual Forecast Conference
PORTLAND, Maine – A record of over 750 of Maine’s real estate professionals gathered recently to hear experts give statewide economic projections for 2015 at the Maine Real Estate &...
Read Article Property Tax Alert: Law Changes How Property Tax Assessors Gather and Protect Proprietary Information
Maine’s Constitution requires local assessors to determine a property’s assessed value each year on April 1. Determining the assessment of commercial or industrial taxable property however, can be very difficult. ...
Read Article MEREDA’s Annual Real Estate Forecast Conference and Member Showcase is January 22!
Sponsored by TD Bank, our Forecast Conference brings together the largest gathering of commercial real estate professionals in Maine. This event attracts over 600 guests and offers a unique forum specifically geared toward...
Read Article AARP Maine’s Age-Friendly Community Program Seeks to Keep Maine Seniors Home
Maine has an opportunity to take bold action to help address the major challenges of Maine’s rapidly aging population and struggling economy, House Speaker Mark Eves told a recent MEREDA...
Read Article Real Estate Professionals – Planning Around the Passive Activity Loss Rules
Under the passive activity loss (PAL) rules, rental activities are generally considered passive activities with few exceptions. Consequently, many taxpayers find that the PAL rules broadly restrict the deduction of...
Read Article Environmental Issues in Business Transactions – Problems and Practical Problem Solving
MEREDA hosted its “Morning Menu” breakfast event on November 13th, with Ken Gray from Pierce Atwood and Nick Hodgkins of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Missed the breakfast?...
Read Article Opinions of Value – and why they differ
So you ask a simple question “What’s my property worth?”. Depending on whom you ask, the answer may be given quite quickly, but also may vary quite widely! Why is...
Read Article How a lease agreement can make or break your business
I was recently listening to a podcast interview with a blogger who specializes in social media. She stressed the importance of sometimes writing for a mass audience as opposed to...
Read Article Maine Supreme Court Upholds Conditional Rezoning: What it means for Real Estate
The Maine Supreme Court issued a decision last week that upheld the conditional rezoning of Williston-West Church in Portland. In Charles Remmel, et al. v. City of Portland, et al., the...
Read Article Pitfalls at the Intersection of Income & Estate Tax: Planning for Real Estate
Baker Newman Noyes Tax Principal Jean McDevitt recently joined MEREDA members for breakfast to present factors that must be taken into consideration for real estate owners when it comes to...
Read Article Changing the Status Quo of Investing with a Self Directed Retirement Account (SDRA)
Bachelder, along with Jean McDevitt of Baker Newman Noyes recently joined MEREDA members for breakfast to co-present on ways to protect your property through estate & retirement planning. Read on to learn...
Read Article Fired for being Canadian?!? That’s OUTRAGEOUS!
An employee, alleging he was fired for being Canadian, took his employer to the Maine Human Rights Commission to contest his dismissal. The case fell flat when the employer produced a file...
Read Article Design the right time for building technology
Commercial building developers need to consider all of the factors that make a building attractive to potential tenants, and one of the most overlooked areas is the infrastructure required to...
Read Article Downtown vs the suburbs: How office markets need to change with the times
Office property fundamentals have steadily improved during the economic recovery. However, the office market will face some very unique challenges in the coming decade as workforce demographics affect corporate real...
Read Article Six things to consider when purchasing investment real estate
So, you’re sitting on a pile of cash like Warren Buffett because nobody won the March Madness Bracket Challenge, trying to decide where to invest next. You like the idea...
Read Article Shoreland Zoning Rule Changes Coming Soon
Shoreland zoning rule changes at the state level are on the regulatory agenda over the coming months. Through Maine’s shoreland zoning statute, municipalities are required to adopt and enforce local...
Read Article The Shift to Renting
Maine prides itself in having a higher rate of home ownership than the nation as a whole. The trend toward homeownership had been moving upward in Maine and across the...
Read Article Hiring a Commercial Real Estate Appraiser
So you find yourself needing to have a real estate appraisal performed by a certified appraiser in order to obtain a loan for a purchase transaction. Here are a few...
Read Article Appealing FEMA’s Newly Proposed Flood Maps
Katz-Leavy, along with Jim Nadeau of Nadeau Land Surveys recently joined MEREDA members for breakfast to co-present how to determine whether a property owner has grounds for an appeal and the...
Read Article Gardiner Growth Initiative and Creative Credit Enhancement Programs Spur New Investment in a Historic Downtown
Once regarded as the last exit before the I-295 toll on the way to Augusta, Gardiner has undergone a conscious effort to re-brand, retool, and re-position its historic downtown shopping...
Read Article The Business Case for Energy Efficiency
You know that reducing energy costs are good for your bottom line. Do you know just how good? According to ENERGY STAR, most organizations can achieve annual energy savings of...
Read Article 52 Scatter – the Maine Legislature shuffles the deck
Remember the childhood card "trick" when you were asked if you want to play 52 scatter? Upon agreeing, your friend took the full deck of cards and fanned them into...
Read Article Residential Rentals are a Product – Know Your Market and Respond
Residential rental investments provide a unique opportunity to quickly respond to changing market demands. In investment real estate, rental spaces are the products and tenants are the customers. Let’s separate...
Read Article Free Address Workplace – A New Trend in Designing Office Space
There is a new concept quickly gaining traction here in the US that is shaping the way companies are designing office space. With many offices becoming vacant or under-utilized much...
Read Article How Maine is Re-engaging Downtowns and Old Buildings
Who benefits from Maine's Historic Tax Credit? The answer is we all do. Here's why. Maine's Historic Tax Credit was enacted in 2008 and was extended by the legislature for...
Read Article Think Twice Before Signing Citizens Initiative Petition
It seems innocent enough to sign a petition to allow a group to try to create a law through a citizen initiative. After all, the signature simply gives petition supporters...
Read Article An Introduction to Property Tax Abatements in Maine
The Maine real estate market is improving. Property owners are not the only ones pleased to see real estate values recover from the damage of the Great Recession. Municipalities across...
Read Article Drew Sigfridson Passes MEREDA’s Presidential Baton After a Busy Two-Year Term
As MEREDA closes out another successful year, Drew Sigfridson of CBRE | The Boulos Company is stepping down as president, and I am looking forward to stepping up. On behalf...
Read Article New Hyatt Place adds energy, jobs, and innovations to Old Port
The new Hyatt Place hotel, the first for the brand in Maine, developed by East Brown Cow in Portland’s Old Port is a study in long-range vision. Company President Tim...
Read Article How Might New Maine Legislation Impact Your Business
Now that the second regular session of Maine’s 126th Legislature has concluded, we wanted to call your attention to some of the upcoming legal changes that could affect the business...
Read Article Need for statewide economic development plan explored at Maine business forum
MEREDA’s annual Spring Conference, attracted more than 300 from the real estate, business and government sectors to discuss the topic of "50th to 1st: Ingredients of a Successful Economic Development...
Read Article Real Estate Development 101: Plan Your Work – Work Your Plan
A panel of experts gathered to chat about the development process from many different angles: architect, economic development and banker. The event, which MEREDA hosted in Auburn on April 15th,...
Read Article New “Jewel” Hotel in a Platinum Setting Honors the Past while Building for the Future
JB Brown leads effort to blend six-story hotel/condo complex into Portland's historic waterfront. J.B. Brown & Sons, a 176-year-old Portland development company, is adding another landmark-quality development to Portland’s historic...
Read Article 450 jobs and 600,00 SF: A Redevelopment Update from MRRA
BRUNSWICK LANDING, Maine – As the master redeveloper of the former Naval Air Station Brunswick (NASB), the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) oversees one of the largest, most exciting and...
Read Article Implementing Integrated Work
There are many drivers of change in today’s organization. The use of technology has enabled employees to become highly mobile, allowing work to occur in a wide range of spaces...
Read Article Maine’s State Historic Tax Credit Under Scrutiny by Maine Legislature this Winter
During the past legislative session, MEREDA's Public Policy Counsel, Andrea Cianchette Maker, attorney at Pierce Atwood, LLP, coordinated a loosely-knit coalition of developers and associations that worked closely together to...
Read Article Barns are the New Banquet Hall: Capitalizing on Wedding Trends to Benefit Maine’s Economy
Barns as wedding venues have a growing appeal in the nuptials market. Popular wedding website theknot.com verifies this national trend, noting that “barns and farm settings … help drive that...
Read Article Cost Effective Historic Building Rehabilitation through Masonry Conditions Assessments
Whitaker recently joined MEREDA members for breakfast to co-present an outline of how to best plan for historic masonry envelope rehabilitation. His message was succinct: “It is essential that a...
Read Article A closer look at the Pepperell Mill in Biddeford
Anyone who spends time with Doug Sanford, Owner, and Scott Joslin, COO, of the Pepperell Mill Campus can’t help but share their enthusiasm for the project they have undertaken in...
Read Article Moving 101: Your Guide to Corporate Relocation
Corporate relocation should be fun and exciting, as it often means your firm has hit an important milestone – but it often feels far from it. Make your move a...
Read Article Leveraging Public Entertainment Space
While patrons of the Cumberland County Civic Center and the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor enjoy the comforts and acoustics of these two fine facilities, the amenities are merely a...
Read Article A Developer’s Primer: How to Make Use of Maine’s Municipal TIF Program
While municipalities across the state of Maine are increasingly using tax increment financing (TIF) as a tool to foster economic development within the municipality, there is wide disparity around the...
Read Article Tax Advantages of Solar or Geothermal Energy
Are you interested in green energy as a potential investor or donor to nonprofit organizations who might benefit from solar or geothermal energy to power their buildings? Are you in...
Read Article Welcome to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Maine Maine Real Estate Insider, born from a desire within the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) to help you...
Read Article