Real Estate & Elegant Maine Living - The Way Life Should Be

“Protecting Your Maine Life: A Continued Conversation with Tate Ficker”

In Part 2 of Elise's conversation with Tate Ficker, founder of the Ficker Insurance Group, we dive deeper into the real-world concerns homeowners face when it comes to wind, rain, flooding, and rising insurance premiums—especially in today’s shifting climate.

We explore how natural disasters in other parts of the country are subtly but steadily influencing i...

In this episode of Elegant Maine Living, Elise Kiely sits down with Tate Ficker, owner of the Ficker Insurance Group and a deeply rooted Mainer, to explore the role of insurance in Maine’s real estate landscape and lifestyle.

Together, they discuss:

• Tate’s journey from growing up in Fryeburg to returning to Maine to raise a family after a decade in Boston.
• Why Maine’s unique sense of community plays a vital role in both real estat...

This solo episode offers a timely and insightful snapshot of Maine’s real estate market in spring 2025. Elise shares national trends and how they contrast with local realities in Greater Portland and across Cumberland County. From shifting buyer behavior to surging entry-level demand and once-in-a-generation coastal listings, this episode is your guide to what’s moving—and what’s holding—in Maine real estate.

🔍 In this episode, Eli...

“Financing with Confidence: Local Lending Strategies with Greg Dauphinee (Part 2)”

In the second half of my conversation with Greg Dauphinee, Senior Loan Officer at Androscoggin Bank, we explore how working with a local community lender can give buyers a meaningful edge in Maine’s competitive real estate market.

Greg shares insightful stories from the field—moments where common-sense lending and local control made all the difference ...

“Financing with Confidence: Navigating Interest Rates and Lending in Maine with Greg Dauphinee”

In this episode of Elegant Maine Living, I sit down with Greg Dauphinee, Vice President and Senior Loan Officer at Androscoggin Bank, to discuss financing options in today’s real estate market and how buyers—particularly those not purchasing with cash—can still be competitive in Maine’s dynamic housing environment.

With over 24 years of ex...

In this second half of my engaging conversation with Chris Lynch, founder and president of Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty, we dive into what’s driving Maine’s residential real estate market—from explosive luxury appreciation to the deepening challenges in the entry-level housing segment.

Chris shares powerful insights about the post-pandemic surge in demand, why lifestyle-driven buyers are still flocking to Maine, ...

In this inspiring and insightful episode of Elegant Maine Living, Elise sits down with Chris Lynch, founder and owner of Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty, to discuss the origins of Maine’s premier luxury real estate brokerage. Chris shares his personal journey from a demanding Wall Street career to a deliberate and life-changing move to Maine to focus on family, community, and a new kind of professional purpose.

Toge...

In this solo market update, Elise Kiely summarizes trends from Q1 2025 in the real estate market as Q2 of 2025 begins. After years of intense seller leverage, the tide is beginning to turn. Elise shares what “growing buyer leverage” really means, and how both buyers and sellers can take advantage of today’s shifting dynamics.

Nationally, home showings are on the rise, mortgage applications are climbing—even without a major rate drop...

Host: Elise Kiely
Guest: Christina McAnuff, Executive Director, Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute

In the 2nd half of this inspiring conversation, Elise reconnects with Christina McAnuff to explore the deeper impact of the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute on young women in Maine. From statewide leadership conferences to alumni chapters and lifelong mentorship, this episode reveals how the Institute sustains a ...

✨ Episode Summary:

In this powerful episode, Elise sits down with Christina McAnuff, Executive Director of the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute, to explore how this transformative organization is raising the confidence and aspirations of high school girls across Maine. With a presence in 37 schools and over 1,400 alumnae and active Olympia Leaders currently in high school, the Institute offers a unique three-year leadershi...

📌 Episode Summary:
In this episode of Elegant Maine Living, host Elise Kiely, Senior Vice President and Luxury Real Estate Advisor with Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty, takes a deep dive into Maine’s real estate market in 2024 and shares her predictions for 2025.

Elise explores key market trends, shares insights from real buyer experiences, and discusses how Luxury Active Baby Boomers (LABS) and Luxury Empty N...

🎙 Episode Title: Welcome to Elegant Maine Living – The Way Life Should Be

📌 Episode Summary:
In this inaugural episode of Elegant Maine Living, host Elise Kiely, Senior Vice President and Real Estate Advisor with Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty, introduces listeners to the heart and soul of Maine’s unique lifestyle and luxury real estate market. She shares her personal journey from practicing law in Washingto...