There is something about New England that has always fascinated me. I am captivated by scenic small towns that have beautiful Main Streets with unique little shops and restaurants covered in fresh snow. Maybe I watch too many Hallmark movies but these towns seem so peaceful and are a respite from living in an urban metropolitan city for years. Nevertheless, I decided I would research New England and see what places caught my attention.
Maine , Rhode Island, Vermont or New Hampshire?
The areas I chose to look into were Providence RI, Burlington VT, Portsmouth NH and Portland Maine. I researched cost of living, weather, real estate prices, things to do, restaurants and neighborhoods in the four areas. After researching for a year, I decided on Portland Maine because it seemed like the perfect fit for me.
Real Estate and the Vibe of Portland
The first thing that surprised me was that real estate in Portland was almost comparable to Washington DC where I currently live. If you look outside of Portland, the prices do begin to decrease but I wanted to live in Portland. Suburbs are like suburbs everywhere and I wanted to experience the uniqueness of the city. Portland seems to me to be a smaller version of a big metropolitan city without the constant hustle and bustle. It has just enough of a city feel while still having small town characteristics. Because it is on the coast, it doesn’t receive as much snow as you would imagine.
Food and Beauty
The restaurant scene is phenomenal and Bon Appetit magazine named Portland the 2018 Restaurant City Of The Year! There are many different neighborhoods each with their own attributes. In Portland, you either live On Peninsula or Off Peninsula and I wanted to live on the peninsula. In making my decision, what attracted me to Portland was the metropolitan feel even though it is a small city, the fact that it does snow alot but not as much as you think it does, the restaurant scene (going out to dinner is one of my favorite things to do), and the stunningly beautiful scenery.
Weather and Health
The most import reason for choosing Portland was its weather. I suffer from extremely debilitating migraines and the weather is a big trigger for them. Hot humid weather causes my headaches to be incapacitating and the humidity in Washington DC during the summer is legendary. Cold weather is much better for my disabling migraines. Portland might have two days of humid weather in a year and the temperature rarely goes into the eighties during the summer making it perfect for me.
The Next Phase…
Continuing my research, I contacted real estate agents and began receiving condo listings. I spent a year working with real estate agents to find the right place to live. My next post will continue my journey…
