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Short-term rentals are angry in many parts of Maine, especially in the coastal areas where they are blamed. Push up house pricesReduce long-term rents and make nearby properties less desirable.
However, in less traveled areas of the state, they are welcomed as contributors to the local economy. Rent a car at Lake Meddybemps in Washington County, a 15-mile drive to the Canadian border. Lake Downeast is adjacent to four less populated towns, Bailey Building with 1,318 people, Alexander with 525 people, Bearing with 201 people and Medivenps with 139 people as of 2020.
Steve Clark, owner of Nook & Cranny Restaurant in Bailey Building, said: “I think they are accepted as helping the local economy.”
In other parts of the densely populated state, Portland When Bangor A serious housing shortage regulates short-term rentals and punishes those who do not follow the rules. Clark said his area also lacked medium- to long-term rents, mainly because many places were closed in the winter. Some of his employees commute for almost an hour.
Benefits are also seen in Jean Lawlis, who owns a cottage on Alexander’s Lake, which she rents through the website Vrbo. Her renter goes out to eat and enjoy local attractions during her visit, and she hires a maid to clean and a teenager to mow the grass.
“Our area around Calais has been in a difficult economic situation for a long time,” said Lauris, born in Curry, a 20-minute drive north of Medivenps.
Lauris, a former town council member of Hampden, a retired engineer and math teacher, inherited his home from his father after his death. She decided to keep it in her family and rent it to pay taxes and maintenance costs, including the new roof that would be needed soon.
“If you’re not using it, why not share it with everyone,” she said. “Family vacation is important.”
Joseph Reynolds, Massachusetts, who rented a Lauris cottage with his family last summer, said there was legitimate concern about losing a lot of affordable homes, especially those rented by large corporations. ..
However, he grew up in that part of Maine and wanted a more personal experience for his vacation, so he chose the cottage. He wanted to patronize a local business. The peace and tranquility of the place also fascinated him.
“There is much less light pollution,” he said. “At least during the holidays, we could pretend that the cottage belonged to us.”
A 2,000-square-foot cottage with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms can be rented for $ 250 per night. Lawlis adjusts prices for long-term rentals, such as two women who stayed during the winter while completing an internship at Curry.
The cottage is right next to a sandy lake where Reynolds dogs and children enjoyed swimming. Lake Meddybemps, 10 miles long, The best smallmouth bass lake In eastern Maine, there are also white sea bass, land-trapped salmon, and other fisheries.
It’s quiet without a lot of boats, Diane James said, renting a two-bedroom cabin with a loft on the lake for $ 200 per night. Most rents are from 2 nights to 1 week. Meddybemps camps attract people from all over the world, including Europe. She and her family live in a second hut on the same grounds. They closed both during the winter at the end of October.
As a local attraction, James introduces activities such as kayaking on the lake and hiking the Cutler’s Bold Coast and other trails, a 50-minute drive south of Medivenps. Eastport, Rubeck and Campobello Island are nearby day trips. The Canadian border is a 25-minute drive to St. Stephen, New Brunswick.
Semi-retired nurse practitioner James said he understands concerns about short-term rentals, but like Lauris, she ends up with additional real estate purchased from her neighbor, which provides additional income.
She rented the property through Airbnb for about five years and had little problems, except that some people would be confused at checkout. She likes the fact that Airbnb handles property payments and financial transactions.
This also looks attractive to Susan Morken Olsanski, who lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana, but whose husband’s grandparents are from the Meddybemps region. They own two homes on the lake, one that lives during the summer and the other is a summer camp where she is considering short-term rentals. They spent the summer on the lake for 27 years.
She talked to James about the pros and cons of renting, including property damage and potential theft, and learned to some extent manage camp renters through an online rental website. She doesn’t want to have pets and she wants to form a group of 4 or less.
James has similar restrictions. The same is true for Lauris. Lauris prefers to rent to his family, but he allows pets. She shared advice on renting for those who are accustomed to being alone.
“Set your own rules and understand that others may come down to the water to sit in the chair you put out and hear them talking,” she says. I did.