Housing

Maine's median sales price was $405,000, up 3.85%, and only slightly less than the national rate of $409,500, which was unchanged.

Housing production of all types is underway across Maine, but affordability remains the dominant issue, as the state’s median income fails to keep pace with prices,

Scarborough says the law is “a recipe for disaster” that overrides local zoning, prohibits town growth caps and will add financial and administrative burdens to municipalities.

As the new year kicks off, the data show a steady market on the whole, but homes lingering longer and price reductions more common.

Kara Wilbur is a planner, developer and distributor of catalog homes through Dooryard, a full-service development company.

Kevin Hancock, chairman of Hancock Lumber, predicts another healthy year for the lumber, housing and construction sectors in Maine.

The Legislature’s Housing and Economic Development Committee is steering policy to facilitate housing development to meet the need now as well as for the coming years.

Construction has begun on the Lambert Woods North apartments at 2274 Washington Ave. Extension in Portland, phase one of a large affordable housing development that will eventually include 162 apartments.

A robust pipeline of affordable housing development in 2025 will continue through 2026.

The two-story, multi-use building includes four one-bedroom apartments and one two-bedroom dwelling.