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| Take a virtual tour of Portland (ME) including local real estate, landmarks and schools | ||||||
Portland Network Partners/Sponsors
Portland Maine (ME) Real Estate & Homes for Sale
Let Portland ME real estate assist you in finding the right property to meet your needs from local area homes for sale, foreclosure listings (bank-owned), country properties, land, condominiums and equine facilities -- all through the ME real estate Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Request relocation information, or school statistics and neighborhood demographics.
Portland, Maine is Maine's largest city, a diverse community situated on a peninsula jutting out into spectacular Casco Bay, and a popular destination for scenic beauty, splendid recreational opportunities and a wealth of historic and cultural offerings.
Portland was originally called "Machigonne" by the Native Americans who first inhabited the region. It was settled by the British in 1632 as a fishing and trading settlement and renamed Casco. In 1658 its name was changed again, this time to "Falmouth." A monument at the end of Congress Street where it meets the Eastern Promenade is a tribute to the four historical names for Portland.
In 1675, the village was completely destroyed by the Wampanoag people during King Philip's War. Although the village was soon rebuit, it suffered further attacks and on October 18, 1775 was bombarded during the American Revolutionary War by the Royal Navy under command of Captain Henry Mowat.
Following the war, a section of Falmouth called "The Neck" developed as a commercial port and began to grow rapidly as a shipping center. In 1786, the citizens of Falmouth formed a separate town in Falmouth Neck and named it "Portland." Portland's economy was greatly stressed by the Embargo Act of 1807 (prohibition of trade with the British) and the War of 1812. In 1820 Maine became a state and Portland was selected as its capital.
By this time both the Embargo Act and the war had ended, and Portland's economy began to recover. In 1832 the capital was moved to Augusta, though Portland has since remained the state's cultural, social and economic hub. History is kept alive in Portland with constant attention to landmark preservation.
In the downtown area, Old World charm mixes with modern buildings while the ornate architecture and cobblestone streets of the Old Port Exchange reacall a time when the pace of life was slower. Renewed interest in exporting, the prominent fishing industry and the redevelopment of Portland's working waterfront have revitalized this "Jewel by the Sea", as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow dubbed his boyhood home.
Through this site you will find comprehensive facts about as well as extensive information on buying or selling real estate in Portland, Maine. If you are looking to invest in Portland real estate you will find a variety of opportunities available to you. Portland Maine real estate offers relocation information, residential real estate, new home construction and development, condominiums (condos), adult living communities (55+ communities), retirement homes and facilities, land, waterfront properties and multi-family investment properties. Portland, ME, and the surrounding areas offer vacation homes, farms, equine facilities, country properties. To search the statewide MLS (multiple listings service) also referred to as ME MLS, for properties in Portland based on a keyword search, click on the following:
Portland new construction - ME custom homes, executive home building and development
Portland waterfront - ME lake properties and riverfront properties
Click the links below to sign up for our FREE Home Search Service and receive real-time or daily updates on real estate in Portland, ME.
Portland real estate - ME landed property, Maine homes
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MAINE AMERICA'S VACATIONLAND -- "DIRIGO (I LEAD OR I GUIDE)"
From the rocky cliffs of its rugged Atlantic Ocean coast to the rolling mountains and dense forests of its interior, the state offers a bounty of spectacular natural scenery for residents and visitors alike. The state's 5,500 miles of coastline are home to sandy beaches, historic ports, towering granite cliffs and beautiful Acadia National Park. Further inland is an unspoilt wilderness dotted by mountains and lakes. 5,267-foot Mount Katahdin is the state's highest peak and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, while Moosehead Lake is the largest lake in the entire New England region. To the north of the mountains is the sprawling, sparsely populated Aroostook County, famed for its potato crops and French culture.
New England's largest state, Maine has a history as vast and colorful as its gorgeous natural landscape. First settled by Europeans in 1604, the state became part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1652. Ownership of the territory was disputed by England and France throughout the early 18th century, and after the defeat of the French in the 1740s American and British forces contended for the state's territory during the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Due to rapid population growth as well as its geographical separation from the rest of Massachusetts, Maine was admitted as the 23rd state in 1820 through the Missouri Compromise.
By the early 20th century the state had emerged as a major tourist destination, with its idyllic coastal villages, numerous ski resorts, and vast acres of inland wilderness attracting vacationers throughout the year. Tourism remains a staple industry in the state, while a number of outlet malls in the southern part of the state have proven a boon to local commerce.
State Facts:
33,414 square miles
488 cities, towns and plantations
Population: 1,321,574 (2006)
Largest cities (2005): Portland, 63,889; Lewiston, 36,050; Bangor, 31,074; South Portland, 23,742; Auburn, 23,602
Nickname: The Pine Tree State
Per capita income: $32,348
Highest point: Mount Katahdin (5,268 ft)
Climate:
New England is famous for its four distinct seasons, with brisk, snowy winters giving way to colorful springs and hot, humid summers. Seasonal temperatures vary considerably throughout the state, with the coastal areas moderated somewhat by the Atlantic Ocean. Skiing and snowmobiling are popular activites in the winter, while in the summer residents and visitors alike enjoy swimming and sailing on the state's beautiful coast and fishing and hiking in Maine's rugged interior. Autumn brings some of the nation's most beautiful foliage.
Government:
The state capital is Augusta, located at the head of the Kennebec River in the south-central region.
The state government has three branches: Executive, headed by the governor; Legislative, comprised of the state Senate and the House of Representatives; and Juducial, headed by the Supreme Judicial Court.
Taxes:
The state generally imposes an income tax on all individuals that have Maine-source income. The income tax rates are graduated, with rates ranging from 2% to 8.5%. Property taxes are determined by an annual State Valuation and vary from town to town.