Brokers in Southern Maine say the tides are beginning to turn after a pandemic-era whirlwind of second-home buying along the state’s coast and lakes.
Local agents from York and Cumberland counties speaking with Bangor Daily News said economic uncertainties and appreciating home values are driving homeowners to cash out on their second homes.
“With economic volatility looming, many want the comfort of liquidity,” Tom Landry, a real estate agent in Portland with Benchmark Real Estate, told the Bangor Daily News.
Maine’s active listings in March increased by more than 27% compared to the same time last year, according to Realtor.com.
Year-over-year listings in March spiked in Portland and Cape Elizabeth, the Bangor Daily News reported, suggesting increased market activity in two popular areas for Maine tourism.
Caleb DeVries, an agent with Advisors Living, told the outlet that his phone is ringing more this year, and a majority of calls are from sellers.
The whiplash is real — two Southern Maine counties ranked among the most popular markets for second-home transactions by luxury home co-ownership startup Pacaso as recently as 2023. York County and Cumberland County, which encompass hotspots like Portland, Cape Elizabeth and Kennebunkport, ranked among the top 10.
Second homeowners in Maine have plenty to gain from cashing out early.
“For buyers, this is the best market we’ve seen in years: more options, less competition and motivated sellers,” Landry told the Bangor Daily News. “But buyers need a strategy. Not everything is flying off the shelf.”
The median home sale price in Maine’s York County — a popular site for vacation homes — increased by 34% between 2022 and 2025, according to Realtor.com.
Homeowners who bought along the coast or lakes even just a few years ago could reap in six-figure gains, according to Realtor.com, while the market is healthy.