January 24, 2018 at 12:00 am · tkcDev · Comments Off on Maine Real Estate Industry Leaders Recognized at MEREDA’s 2018 Forecast Conference

Maine Real Estate Industry Leaders Recognized at MEREDA’s 2018 Forecast Conference

A record of nearly 900 of Maine’s real estate professionals gathered recently to hear experts give statewide economic projections at the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA)’s annual Forecast Conference, sponsored by TD Bank, in Portland.

In addition to a daylong event featuring economic overviews by region and by industry, the 2018 MEREDA Forecast Conference included an awards ceremony to recognize five outstanding industry professionals, each selected for their contributions to MEREDA and, more generally, to the health of the Maine real estate market over the last several years.

Watch a video of MEREDA’s 2017 award winners.

Peter Merrill, of Portland has been selected for the Robert B. Patterson, Jr. Founders’ Award, for significant contributions to the state’s real estate industry over many years. With the Maine State Housing Authority for more than two decades, Peter serves as the agency’s deputy director and was recently named interim director (for the second time). At MaineHousing, he is responsible for general operations and for representing MaineHousing before the Legislature.

Peter has been instrumental in helping MaineHousing meet its mission to address the problems of unsafe, unsuitable, overcrowded, and unaffordable housing through initiatives such as the issuance of bonds to finance single family and multi-family housing for Maine’s low and moderate income citizens, supporting the homeless, and working with policy leaders to administer federal housing programs including rental subsidies, weatherization and fuel assistance, housing block grants, and the low-income housing tax credit program.

Peter has served on MEREDA’s public policy committee for more than a decade. He has tremendous insight into of the workings of the Legislature and has provided MEREDA with invaluable counsel in its public affairs endeavors.

Peter has left many fingerprints throughout Augusta and Maine, and has helped to make a real and lasting difference for the real estate industry as a whole and in the lives of our fellow citizens.

**
The co-chairs of MEREDA’s DevelopME program, Sam LeGeyt and Cameron Woodford share this year’s MEREDA President’s Award, in recognition of a significant, new, and/or emerging contribution on MEREDA’s behalf.

Through DevelopME, Sam and Cam have engaged with the next generation of leaders from MEREDA’s membership to create professional development opportunities for emerging real estate and development professionals, including content-deep lunch and learn sessions and a mentorship program meant to cultivate and connect.

In addition to his work with DevelopME, Sam, of Yarmouth, is the newest member of MEREDA’s board of directors, sits on MEREDA’s membership and marketing committee, serves on the City of Westbrook’s Economic Vitality Committee, and is an associate broker with Harnden Commercial Brokers, specializing in office and investment in the southern Maine market.

Cam, of Freeport, will serve on MEREDA’s board of directors next year, currently sits on MEREDA’s events committee, and serves as an acquisitions analyst with Northern New England Housing Investment Fund, where he helps source and analyze equity investments in affordable housing projects across Maine and New Hampshire.

**

Brit Vitalius, of Yarmouth, will receive MEREDA’s Public Policy Award for his significant impact on public policy changes to benefit responsible real estate development in Maine.

This fall, Brit’s leadership, coalition building, and active role as a spokesperson and visionary led to the defeat of a rent control ordinance in the state’s largest city, which would have had a devastating impact not only for landlords, but also for tenants looking to live in safe, comfortable, affordable buildings, and might have risked a trickle-down effect to other municipalities across Maine.

Founder and designated broker of Vitalius Real Estate Group, Brit is in his fourth term as president of the Southern Maine Landlord Association, an annual presenter at MEREDA’s Forecast Conference, and serves on Portland’s Fire Safety Task Force. Brit is also a member of the board of Maine Listings and personally owns and manages multi-unit investments in Portland and Yarmouth.

Ethan Boxer-Macomber, of Portland, will receive MEREDA’s Volunteer of the Year Award for enthusiastically sharing his time and energy and passions with the organization. For instance, this past summer and into late fall, Ethan lent considerable time and energy alongside others to successfully defeat Question 2 on Portland’s municipal ballot, which would have provided a zoning loophole so that a small number of residents could thwart a project that might otherwise benefit the city, such as a proposed cold storage locker, affordable housing developments, or others.

Ethan also recently lent his expertise to standing-room only crowds at MEREDA’s young professionals group, DevelopME, presenting twice on the topics of “how to break into development" and "analyzing the deal."

A municipal planner by education who previously held public posts in both Davis, California and Portland, Maine, Ethan is now the principal of Anew Development with 18 years of experience in real estate, housing, and community development, having successfully led multiple large-scale residential development projects across southern Maine.

Next, MEREDA will recognize notable projects from the last year in Maine commercial real estate. That awards ceremony is scheduled as part of the organization’s spring conference, on May 16, 2018. 

January 23, 2018 at 9:25 am · Shelly Clark · Comments Off on Maine’s real estate sector hits record high

Maine’s real estate sector hits record high

Second most important driver of GDP at its best in a decade

Earlier this month, with a best-ever 900 on hand for MEREDA’s premiere annual forecasting event, luminaries from Maine’s real estate industry unveiled the highest levels of The MEREDA Index in a decade — at a record-breaking 96. “This signifies the most robust real estate economy in Maine since before the recession,” said MEREDA board president Paul Peck.

Peck pointed out that these numbers are especially promising as “real estate has quickly become Maine’s second most important driver of GDP, second only to healthcare,” according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

This edition of The MEREDA Index was tabulated by Dr. Charles Colgan, economist, and was underwritten by Eaton Peabody, with support from Redstone, TRANE, and Bedford Cost Segregation.

The MEREDA Index is a measure of Maine’s real estate activity designed to track changes in Maine’s real estate markets.  It is a composite of nine seasonally adjusted measures reflecting both new development and transactions involving existing properties and it covers both the commercial and residential markets statewide. This most recent release covers the sector for the middle two quarters of 2017.

Download a copy of the report.

Watch a video about The MEREDA Index.

The following commentary on this edition of The MEREDA Index was provided by Dr. Charles Colgan:

The MEREDA Index showed a gain of 1.5% over the six months from March to September 2017 and 1.2% over the twelve months from September 2016 to September 2017.

That said, Maine’s commercial real estate segment, which comprises 50% of the Index, come in at 100.5, down 1.6% in this edition. The declines were led by a drop in commercial transactions and in square feet of commercial transactions. Commercial sales also declined by 0.4%, but there was a 2.2% rise in commercial rental rates on a square foot basis. “This component still stands above the pre-recession levels (on all measures except square footage), and reflects the overall state of the Maine economy, which has also reached pre-recession levels of employment but is growing at a very slow pace, indicating relatively weak demand for commercial space, according to Colgan.

The residential component of the Index came in at 92 (weighted at 40% of the overall Index). This sector lead The MEREDA Index, with a 5.8% increase.  According to Colgan, permits for new single and multi-family construction show strong growth of over 20% on a seasonally adjusted basis from March to September.  The metrics for mortgage originations (8.6%) and median price (6.1%) also showed strong growth.  Residential unit sales was also positive, up 3.2%.

The construction component came in at 91 (weighted at 10% of the overall Index), having grown consistently over the past six months, rising 6.7%, and is one of the strongest six-month period for this indicator since 2010.

January 23, 2018 at 12:00 am · tkcDev · Comments Off on Maine’s real estate sector hits record high

Maine’s real estate sector hits record high

Earlier this month, with a best-ever 900 on hand for MEREDA's premiere annual forecasting event, luminaries from Maine's real estate industry unveiled the highest levels of The MEREDA Index in a decade — at a record-breaking 96. "This signifies the most robust real estate economy in Maine since before the recession," said MEREDA board president Paul Peck.

Peck pointed out that these numbers are especially promising as "real estate has quickly become Maine's second most important driver of GDP, second only to healthcare," according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

This edition of The MEREDA Index was tabulated by Dr. Charles Colgan, economist, and was underwritten by Eaton Peabody, with support from Redstone, TRANE, and Bedford Cost Segregation.

The MEREDA Index is a measure of Maine's real estate activity designed to track changes in Maine’s real estate markets.  It is a composite of nine seasonally adjusted measures reflecting both new development and transactions involving existing properties and it covers both the commercial and residential markets statewide. This most recent Press Release covers the sector for the middle two quarters of 2017.

Download a copy of the report.  

Watch a video about The MEREDA Index.

The following commentary on this edition of The MEREDA Index was provided by Dr. Charles Colgan:

The MEREDA Index showed a gain of 1.5% over the six months from March to September 2017 and 1.2% over the twelve months from September 2016 to September 2017.

That said, Maine's commercial real estate segment, which comprises 50% of the Index, come in at 100.5, down 1.6% in this edition. The declines were led by a drop in commercial transactions and in square feet of commercial transactions. Commercial sales also declined by 0.4%, but there was a 2.2% rise in commercial rental rates on a square foot basis. "This component still stands above the pre-recession levels (on all measures except square footage), and reflects the overall state of the Maine economy, which has also reached pre-recession levels of employment but is growing at a very slow pace, indicating relatively weak demand for commercial space, according to Colgan.

The residential component of the Index came in at 92 (weighted at 40% of the overall Index). This sector lead The MEREDA Index, with a 5.8% increase.  According to Colgan, permits for new single and multi-family construction show strong growth of over 20% on a seasonally adjusted basis from March to September.  The metrics for mortgage originations (8.6%) and median price (6.1%) also showed strong growth.  Residential unit sales was also positive, up 3.2%.

The construction component came in at 91 (weighted at 10% of the overall Index), having grown consistently over the past six months, rising 6.7%, and is one of the strongest six-month period for this indicator since 2010.

For more information about The MEREDA Index, visit http://mereda.org/currentindex.php.

January 12, 2018 at 1:15 pm · Shelly Clark · Comments Off on Five real estate luminaries to be honored in Portland

Five real estate luminaries to be honored in Portland

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2018

PORTLAND, Maine – Next week, on Tue. Jan. 18, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) will recognize five luminaries for significant and lasting contribution to responsible real estate development in the State of Maine. The awards will be presented as part of MEREDA’s Forecast Conference, slated for the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland, beginning at 8 am. Registration is available at MEREDA.org

Peter Merrill, of Portland has been selected for the Robert B. Patterson, Jr. Founders’ Award, for significant contributions to the state’s real estate industry over many years. With the Maine State Housing Authority for more than two decades, Merrill serves as the agency’s deputy director and was recently named interim director (for the second time). At MaineHousing, he is responsible for general operations and for representing MaineHousing before the Legislature.

Merrill has been instrumental in helping MaineHousing meet its mission to address the problems of unsafe, unsuitable, overcrowded, and unaffordable housing through initiatives such as the issuance of bonds to finance single family and multi-family housing for Maine’s low and moderate income citizens, supporting the homeless, and working with policy leaders to administer federal housing programs including rental subsidies, weatherization and fuel assistance, housing block grants, and the low-income housing tax credit program.

Merrill has served on MEREDA’s public policy committee for more than a decade. He has tremendous insight into of the workings of the Legislature and has provided MEREDA with invaluable counsel in its public affairs endeavors.

“Peter continues to leave many fingerprints throughout Augusta and Maine, and has helped to make a real and lasting difference for the real estate industry as a whole and in the lives of our fellow citizens,” said Gary Vogel, MEREDA board president-elect.

The co-chairs of MEREDA’s DevelopME program, Sam LeGeyt and Cameron Woodford will share this year’s MEREDA President’s Award, in recognition of a significant, new, and/or emerging contribution on MEREDA’s behalf.

Through DevelopME, LeGeyt and Woodford have engaged with the next generation of leaders from MEREDA’s membership to create professional development opportunities for emerging real estate and development professionals, including content-deep lunch and learn sessions and a mentorship program meant to cultivate and connect.

In addition to his work with DevelopME, LeGeyt, of Yarmouth, is the newest member of MEREDA’s board of directors, sits on MEREDA’s membership and marketing committee, serves on the City of Westbrook’s Economic Vitality Committee, and is an associate broker with Harnden Commercial Brokers, specializing in office and investment in the southern Maine market.

Woodford, of Freeport, will serve on MEREDA’s board of directors next year, currently sits on MEREDA’s events committee, and serves as an acquisitions analyst with Northern New England Housing Investment Fund, where he helps source and analyze equity investments in affordable housing projects across Maine and New Hampshire.

Brit Vitalius, of Yarmouth, will receive MEREDA’s Public Policy Award for his significant impact on public policy changes to benefit responsible real estate development in Maine.

This fall, Vitalius’ leadership, coalition building, and active role as a spokesperson and visionary led to the defeat of a rent control ordinance in the state’s largest city, which would have had a devastating impact not only for landlords, but also for tenants looking to live in safe, comfortable, affordable buildings, and might have risked a trickle-down effect to other municipalities across Maine.

Founder and designated broker of Vitalius Real Estate Group, Vitalius is in his fourth term as president of the Southern Maine Landlord Association, an annual presenter at MEREDA’s Forecast Conference, and serves on Portland’s Fire Safety Task Force. Vitalius is also a member of the board of Maine Listings and personally owns and manages multi-unit investments in Portland and Yarmouth.

Ethan Boxer-Macomber, of Portland, will receive MEREDA’s Volunteer of the Year Award for enthusiastically sharing his time and energy and passions with the organization. For instance, this past summer and into late fall, Boxer-Macomber lent considerable time and energy alongside others to successfully defeat Question 2 on Portland’s municipal ballot, which would have provided a zoning loophole so that a small number of residents could thwart a project that might otherwise benefit the city, such as a proposed cold storage locker, affordable housing developments, or others.

Boxer-Macomber also recently lent his expertise to ?standing-room only crowds at ?MEREDA’s young professionals group, DevelopME, presenting twice on the topics of “how to break into development” and “analyzing the deal.”

A municipal planner by education who previously held public posts in both Davis, California and Portland, Maine, Boxer-Macomber is now the principal of Anew Development with ?18 years of experience in real estate, housing, and community development?, having? successfully led multiple large-scale residential development projects across southern Maine?

January 2, 2018 at 7:51 pm · Shelly Clark · Comments Off on MEREDA’s Morning Menu Breakfast – A Presentation by FocusMaine

MEREDA’s Morning Menu Breakfast – A Presentation by FocusMaine

Join the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) for breakfast on February 1 from 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM at the Portland Regency Hotel for a presentation by FocusMaine, a 10-year initiative to strengthen and revitalize opportunity and prosperity in Maine by accelerating the creation of quality jobs in the areas of agriculture, aquaculture, and biopharmaceuticals.
FocusMaine also focuses on knowledge workers, who enable growth in these sectors and has centered its efforts on traded sectors, which sell goods and services outside of the state, thereby generating more full-time work, higher wages, and more new jobs in the local economy. Importantly, they also work alongside talented partners, including Coastal Enterprises Inc., Gulf of Maine Research Institute, the Maine Aquaculture Association, and the Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development, and are led by a dedicated leadership team of private sector leaders and others deeply committed to sustainable economic growth in the state. Andrea Cianchette Maker, a partner at Pierce Atwood, and Michael Dubyak, chairman of WEX, Inc., co-chair FocusMaine. Kim Hamilton is the president.

About the Event:

February 1, 2018 – 7:30AM to 9:00AM
Portland Regency Hotel
20 Milk Street Portland, ME

Breakfast: 7:30 AM Program: 8:00 – 9:00 AM

About the Panel:

Andrea Cianchette Maker, Partner and Government Relations Practice Group Leader at Pierce Atwood, LLP provides governmental relations services in Maine and in Washington, DC with Maine’s Congressional delegation. She is pleased to be engaged as Public Policy Counsel for MEREDA. Her government relations practice focuses on real estate, economic development, health care, education and workforce development issues. Andrea is adept at building coalitions and developing effective stakeholder relations, as well as helping clients create personal relationships with key policy and decision makers. Her sensible, proactive and direct approach is refreshing and empowering in the complex and sometimes perplexing public policy arena. Committed to creating a strong and vibrant State of Maine, Andrea enjoys working with clients and organizations to strengthen Maine’s economy.

Andrea has developed strong and personal relationships with countless Maine policy makers, business people and association leaders. She has been active with many Maine non?profit organizations, including her current role as Co-Chair of FocusMaine.
Andrea’s honors and distinctions include receiving the Crystal Heart Award by the American Heart Association (Maine Chapter) in 2017 as well as being named as one of four “Women to Watch” by Mainebiz and recognized by Maine magazine’s “50 Mainers” issue in 2016.

Kim Hamilton serves as president of FocusMaine. Prior to this, Kim was Chief Impact Officer at Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization. While at Feeding America, she led their research, nutrition, and ending hunger programs. Prior to joining Feeding America, Kim served in a variety of senior roles at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, including as Director of Strategy, Planning and Management for Global Policy & Advocacy. During her time with the foundation, she also led grant making programs and developed advocacy strategies to advance the foundation’s goals in a variety of fields, including, agricultural development, financial services for the poor, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WSH). Kim has also served as President of NetAid, Director of Program Planning and External Relations at the Migration Policy Institute, and in a variety of other organizations in the think tank and philanthropy fields. Kim grew up in North Yarmouth and went to Greely High School. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology with a focus on Demography from Brown University, an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University for Advanced International Studies, and a B.A. from the Robert D. Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon. Kim and her husband, Barry Fitzsimmons, spend their time between Yarmouth and Chebeague Island.

Registering for this Event:

MEREDA Member: $45 each | Non – Member: $55 each
Register After January 25, 2018: Member: $55 each | Non-Member $65 each
Your RSVP is requested by January 25, 2018. Payment is expected at the time of registration. No refunds will be granted to anyone who registers, but fails to attend or who cancels after January 25, 2018.

This MEREDA Morning Menu Breakfast Event is Sponsored by Norway Savings Bank and Pierce Atwood.

Click here for more information and to register.

January 2, 2018 at 12:00 am · tkcDev · Comments Off on MEREDA’s Morning Menu Breakfast – A Presentation by FocusMaine

MEREDA’s Morning Menu Breakfast – A Presentation by FocusMaine

Join the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) for breakfast on February 1 from 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM at the Portland Regency Hotel for a presentation by FocusMaine, a 10-year initiative to strengthen and revitalize opportunity and prosperity in Maine by accelerating the creation of quality jobs in the areas of agriculture, aquaculture, and biopharmaceuticals. 

FocusMaine also focuses on knowledge workers, who enable growth in these sectors and has centered its efforts on traded sectors, which sell goods and services outside of the state, thereby generating more full-time work, higher wages, and more new jobs in the local economy. Importantly, they also work alongside talented partners, including Coastal Enterprises Inc., Gulf of Maine Research Institute, the Maine Aquaculture Association, and the Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development, and are led by a dedicated leadership team of private sector leaders and others deeply committed to sustainable economic growth in the state. Andrea Cianchette Maker, a partner at Pierce Atwood, and Michael Dubyak, chairman of WEX, Inc., co-chair FocusMaine. Kim Hamilton is the president.

About the Event:

February 1, 2018 – 7:30AM to 9:00AM
Portland Regency Hotel
20 Milk Street Portland, ME

Breakfast: 7:30 AM Program: 8:00 – 9:00 AM

About the Panel:

Andrea Cianchette Maker, Partner and Government Relations Practice Group Leader at Pierce Atwood, LLP provides governmental relations services in Maine and in Washington, DC with Maine’s Congressional delegation. She is pleased to be engaged as Public Policy Counsel for MEREDA. Her government relations practice focuses on real estate, economic development, health care, education and workforce development issues. Andrea is adept at building coalitions and developing effective stakeholder relations, as well as helping clients create personal relationships with key policy and decision makers. Her sensible, proactive and direct approach is refreshing and empowering in the complex and sometimes perplexing public policy arena. Committed to creating a strong and vibrant State of Maine, Andrea enjoys working with clients and organizations to strengthen Maine’s economy. 

Andrea has developed strong and personal relationships with countless Maine policy makers, business people and association leaders. She has been active with many Maine non?profit organizations, including her current role as Co-Chair of FocusMaine. 
Andrea’s honors and distinctions include receiving the Crystal Heart Award by the American Heart Association (Maine Chapter) in 2017 as well as being named as one of four "Women to Watch" by Mainebiz and recognized by Maine magazine’s "50 Mainers" issue in 2016. 

Kim Hamilton serves as president of FocusMaine. Prior to this, Kim was Chief Impact Officer at Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization. While at Feeding America, she led their research, nutrition, and ending hunger programs. Prior to joining Feeding America, Kim served in a variety of senior roles at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, including as Director of Strategy, Planning and Management for Global Policy & Advocacy. During her time with the foundation, she also led grant making programs and developed advocacy strategies to advance the foundation’s goals in a variety of fields, including, agricultural development, financial services for the poor, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WSH). Kim has also served as President of NetAid, Director of Program Planning and External Relations at the Migration Policy Institute, and in a variety of other organizations in the think tank and philanthropy fields. Kim grew up in North Yarmouth and went to Greely High School. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology with a focus on Demography from Brown University, an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University for Advanced International Studies, and a B.A. from the Robert D. Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon. Kim and her husband, Barry Fitzsimmons, spend their time between Yarmouth and Chebeague Island. 

Registering for this Event:

MEREDA Member: $45 each  | Non – Member: $55 each
Register After January 25, 2018:  Member: $55 each  |  Non-Member $65 each
Your RSVP is requested by January 25, 2018. Payment is expected at the time of registration. No refunds will be granted to anyone who registers, but fails to attend or who cancels after January 25, 2018.

This MEREDA Morning Menu Breakfast Event is Sponsored by Norway Savings Bank and Pierce Atwood.

Click here for more information and to register.

December 5, 2017 at 12:00 am · tkcDev · Comments Off on Maureen Van Uden, TD Bank, Elected to the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s Board of Directors

Maureen Van Uden, TD Bank, Elected to the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s Board of Directors

PORTLAND, Maine ? Maureen Van Uden, Senior Relationship Manager at TD Bank, has been elected to the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA)
board of directors. Her 20+ year career at TD Bank has included Branch Banking, Consumer Lending, Small Business Lending, Regional Small Business Sales and People Management.

“Working primarily in the Lewiston / Auburn area, Maureen will be an invaluable resource for MEREDA’s Membership & Marketing Committee, on which she will also serve," says Shelly R. Clark, Vice President of Operations. "We are excited to have Maureen on board."

Maureen also serves on the Boards of SEDCO (Scarborough Economic Development Corp) as Treasurer and My Place Teen Center, an after school program that feeds and nurtures at risk youth in the Greater Portland area.

Maureen holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of New Hampshire and a MBA from Southern New Hampshire University.

For further information, please contact MEREDA’s Vice President of Operations, Shelly R. Clark at 207?874?0801 or visit www.mereda.org.