Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 19 A P R I L 3 0 , 2 0 1 8 F O C U S C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N M A I N E Hackel expects that investment to continue to pay off , even with fl uctua- tions in the ski industry and the threat of climate change. "If you plan on just owning your condo and not selling, fl uctuations matter little," he says. Condo market strong Real estate brokers are seeing other condo buyers like the Hackels — ski- ers who want to spend time with fam- ily and also enjoy a growing suite of off -season activities. Although Maine's ski resorts face uncertainty around climate change, the consensus among industry experts and Realtors is that it's not expected to substantially impact the condomin- ium market, due to factors off setting potentially deleterious eff ects. Greg Sweetser, executive direc- tor of the Ski Maine Association in Portland, says this winter was typical — a great snowy start, then 50-degree temperatures, then March snowstorms. e season will average 1.2 million visits — a steady number despite variable weather, he says. Mitigating factors start with snow- making technology. At Sunday River and Sugarloaf, Mark Hall, senior vice president of owner Boyne Resorts, says resort owners are doing more to manage the uncertainty through snowmaking. " at's strengthened the real estate market at both resorts, and the commitment from our guests who know they can rely on consis- tency. We do get seasons where we have challenges, but we've got the technology and capacity, for the most part, to overcome those chal- lenges," Hall says. If there's a connection between fi ckle weather and the condo- minium market, it's not a clear one, says Sam Punderson, a broker with Mountainside Real Estate, an arm of the Sugarloaf Corp. He cites the horrendous ski conditions in January and February 2016, which nonetheless ushered in a buying spree in March. "It was a total head-scratcher for us," he says. " e skiing was so bad and we were sitting around the offi ce saying, ' is is going to be a thin year.' en it was like somebody fl ipped the switch." Dire climate predictions aren't deterring buyers either. "Our numbers have been going up," Punderson says. "Whether you're skiing or going to Disneyland, housing is every- thing," says Carrabassett Valley Code Enforcement Offi cer Bill Gilmore. "It's continued to grow, and as long as the economy stays reasonably sound, it will probably grow indefi nitely." Expanding off-season activities Experts also attribute steady condo- minium demand to increased off -sea- son activity, like expanded mountain bike trails on and around Sugarloaf. "Slowly but surely the whole area has been discovered by a lot more people using the mountain as a four- season resort," Punderson says. "I think that's made a big diff erence sell- ing condominiums the last few years. More and more are saying, 'We've thought about buying a place up here for ages but we couldn't justify just having a winter place. But now that we hike or mountain bike or canoe more, it's great coming up here during the summer and enjoying everything the area has to off er.'" "A lot of families buy the ski house and then say, 'Since we have the place we should go up at least once in the summer,'" says Susan DuPlessis, owner of the Mountain Real Estate Co. in Newry. " ey end up liking it." Brokers for Sugarloaf and Sunday River condominiums say inventory is tight because of demand and also a growing tendency of owners to generate short-term rental income from their condos when not in use. And they expect new development, as promised in the coming years by the new owner, Michigan-based Boyne Resorts, to be snapped up. 207.773.7100 dunhamgroup.com Under renovation and presented in open concept, vanilla box condition. Located in the heart of South Portland's Maine Mall & Western Avenue shopping districts, 35 Foden has incredible visibility and signage potential. Contact Justin Lamontagne, CCIM, SIOR - justin@dunhamgroup.com • Under New Ownership • 4,000 - 10,500 SF Office/Retail Space • Join Agren Appliance & Bedderrest 35 Foden Road, South Portland For Lease goodwillnne.org/cleaning CLEAN STARTS HERE. Now that spring is here, inside work spaces are becoming a cleaning priority. For a fresh start this spring, call (844) 743-5540 for more information, referrals, or a free estimate. C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » It was a total head-scratcher for us. The skiing It was a total head-scratcher for us. The skiing It was a total head-scratcher for us. The skiing It was a total head-scratcher for us. The skiing It was a total head-scratcher for us. The skiing It was a total head-scratcher for us. The skiing It was a total head-scratcher for us. The skiing It was a total head-scratcher for us. The skiing It was a total head-scratcher for us. The skiing It was a total head-scratcher for us. The skiing It was a total head-scratcher for us. The skiing It was a total head-scratcher for us. The skiing It was a total head-scratcher for us. The skiing It was a total head-scratcher for us. The skiing was so bad and we were sitting around the office was so bad and we were sitting around the office was so bad and we were sitting around the office was so bad and we were sitting around the office was so bad and we were sitting around the office was so bad and we were sitting around the office was so bad and we were sitting around the office was so bad and we were sitting around the office was so bad and we were sitting around the office was so bad and we were sitting around the office was so bad and we were sitting around the office was so bad and we were sitting around the office was so bad and we were sitting around the office saying, 'This is going to be a thin year.' Then it was like somebody flipped the switch. — Sam Punderson Broker, Mountainside Real Estate

• Cover