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

Send us Fan Mail In the second half of my conversation with Margo Walsh—founder of MaineWorks and co-founder of United Recovery Fund—we explore how employment, structure, and community can change the course of someone’s life. Margo shares powerful statistics: if individuals can stay employed for just two weeks through MaineWorks, relapse and re-incarceration rates drop dramatically. We also share...

Send us Fan Mail Host: Elise Kiely Guest: Margo Walsh, Founder of MaineWorks and Co-Founder of United Recovery Fund Episode Summary: In this compelling episode of Elegant Maine Living , Elise Kiely sits down with Margo Walsh—founder of the groundbreaking employment company MaineWorks and co-founder of the nonprofit United Recovery Fund . Together, they explore the intersection of Maine’s workforce...

Send us Fan Mail In this insightful solo episode, Elise Kiely provides a comprehensive spring 2025 market update , starting with the national landscape and zooming in to Maine's distinctive market dynamics. Elise breaks down data on the Northeast region’s strong performance, and Maine’s county-level insights—focusing particularly on Cumberland, York, and Lincoln counties. She also explores wh...

Send us Fan Mail In the second half of this insightful conversation, Elise sits down again with Melinda Gunther of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty to talk all things Naples real estate. From $24 million sight-unseen purchases to lifestyle-driven second-home decisions, Melinda shares remarkable stories and strategic insights. They discuss the shifting luxury market, buyer psychology, and why...

Send us Fan Mail   Guest: Melinda Gunther, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty – Naples, FL In this episode of Elegant Maine Living , Elise sits down with Florida real estate powerhouse Melinda Gunther to explore why Naples, Florida is such an attractive destination for second home buyers and those seeking a future primary home.  They discuss: The lifestyle and tax benefits of owning in Naples...

Send us Fan Mail “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 part...

Send us Fan Mail 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 sens...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail “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-se...

Send us Fan Mail “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’...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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, c...

Send us Fan Mail 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 app...

Send us Fan Mail 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, th...

Send us Fan Mail ✨ 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 scho...

Send us Fan Mail 📌 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...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙 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 he...