So We Bought This House….In Liberty, Maine
If you’ve been reading here for a while you know Mr Chiots and I have been searching for a home in Maine. We put an offer on a house with 20 acres back in February but things didn’t work out. At the beginning of May, a blog reader (now a friend) who works at a land trust sent me the link to a nice property that was going to be coming on the market. Mr Chiots and I drove up to see if it might be the future Chiot’s Run. We spent the entire day there, looking at the house, the gardens, walking the miles and miles of trails that wind through the 147 acres of woods and wetlands. (correction, after closing we found out it’s 152 acres – BONUS)
There’s a house, a garage/workshop, a sauna, a couple nice edible gardening areas, the headwaters to a river, a huge wetland area and lots and lots of trees.
We had lunch and dinner with the current owners and got in our car that evening with a gentleman’s agreement to purchase the property. It’s been a long road trying to get all the paperwork finished up, but finally, this past Tuesday, as in the day before yesterday, we signed the papers, handed over a HUGE check and it’s ours. We’re not moving until late September, we have work scheduled in Ohio and they are building a house and won’t be able to move out until then. It ended up working out perfectly for all parties involved. More details about the gardens & property in the coming weeks.
How big is your garden in acres?
wow, that is very exciting, congratulations
to Christy's comment
Congratulations ~ it sounds wonderful and is definitely very exciting! This will open up whole new roads to your already wonderful blog…I’ll bet you have designs on that chicken coop already :)
to Liz J's comment
Congratulations!!! It is a wonderful property and I can’t wait to see more pictures once you have moved!!!!
to Bettina's comment
That is such lovely news. Especially the old gentlemen’s agreement whereby everyone works to a schedule that works for them. Less stress that way and lovely to bond with people who are willing to see negotiations through. :)
September is not too far away – 3 months!!
to Chris's comment
So happy for you! This is absolutely wonderful!
to Rhonda's comment
Congrats! Sounds like you’re about to embark on a wonderful new adventure :)
to Victoria's comment
A sauna???!!! Why wait for a house? Move in now! Congratulations! Stevie @ruffledfeathersandspilledmilk.com
to Stevie's comment
I know right!
to Susy's comment
So exciting Susy!!! It looks gorgeous! Can Mr. Chiots hunt on the land? Congrats to you both!
to Throwback Road's comment
Yes he can, though he’s still planning on coming back to Ohio to hunt with my dad.
to Susy's comment
I am jealous! That creek—oh it is beautiful as is the wetland. Hopefully things go well and we’ll be closing on our 1.14 acres tomorrow! It isn’t Maine, but it’ll work!
to Misti's comment
Congrats on your new little piece of heaven. Can’t wait to see it!
to Susy's comment
Congratulations – it’s looks like a fantastic place!
to K.B.'s comment
Wow! How beautiful! And so many possibilities.
to Songbirdtiff's comment
Aaaahh! How utterly perfect! That’s truly a dream home… I’m shocked at how much land is still available in areas of the US that aren’t already turned into shopping centers and malls. One day I’ll be able to have something like that to call my own. Some day.
I unfortunately live on a tiny-ish property. Maybe 1/4th of an acre? Although my father-in-law lives on 75 acres in West Virginia… So envious. Hee hee! One day… one day.
I simply cannot wait to read about your adventures in the new home!!! [How’s the sun situation?!]
to Donna B.'s comment
South facing, lots of good sun!
to Susy's comment
Congratulations on the new place. It looks great, lots of natural land with plenty of garden space too.
To describe my garden area in acres you’d have to use a decimal followed by a lot of zeros. I just have a balcony (partially lost to a bbq) and a couple shelves inside the window. And I just lost a good chunk of space because my bf got a new tv and the top is curved so I can’t keep any plants up there. My spider plant is now homeless. Until I get him (the boyfriend, not the spider plant) to build a new shelf above the tv, that is.
to Jenny's comment
Congrats! The property looks great. Love that you will have chickens.
This year my garden only amounts to a few pots of herbs and 5 potted tomatoes. It isn’t like I don’t have land for the garden and have worked it in the past, but I just don’t have the time right now.
to BeccaOH's comment
Stunning! I know you will have many wonderful years on your dream property. Continued blessings…
to daisy's comment
Thats wonderful!!! Congratulations! Welcome to the Northeast!
to Bethany's comment
Gorgeous ! Congrats to you both !! Were you looking for a property near/with water? What a great perk. Can’t wait to read about all of your moving adventures. — and as for my garden, at 36 square feet it’s about 1/3 of our back yard space and… 0.000826446281 acres. :)
to julie's comment
Oh thats just gorgeous…..and look at the room…..sigh. Now you got your own Maine Farm. ;-)
to KimH's comment
Your new home looks fab, I love how the barns are painted that deep red in the US.
I am a very lucky lady I have 300 acres to call my own. :)
to Mich's comment
Acres?! Don’t be ridiculous. My garden is simply my backyard.
I would be overwhelmed with so much property; but you’re young and nimble. Good luck on becoming a land baroness.
to Maybelline's comment
You’d be surprised of how much of an acre a backyard can be! My friend’s little postage stamp yard is almost a quarter acre, even though it is wicked wicked small.
to Erin's comment
SO exciting and SO jealous. We still haven’t heard from the bank in regards to our little 17 acres with no gardens, a tiny creek, a scary big house, and not-near-as-nice out buildings. Ours needs a ton of work, so i’m glad it’s only 17 acres. You have no excuses now not to invite ALL of your readers to Maine for a retreat!!! ( i think that might actually be the best idea ever! ) I’ll bet you’ll have some skeeters there, though!
to Miranda's comment
Of course we’ll be inviting people. Hopefully in a few years we’ll have the top of the garage fixed up with ample space. Until then we’ll have plenty of bedrooms in the house for visitors! Stop by anytime!
to Susy's comment
Good move. When we were younger, we had twelve acres. Now one acre is getting to be too much for us to handle. The gardens add up to about 1/4 acre, the rest is small pasture and coppice “woodland.”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12305112@N07/7296809436
But for you, you’re young enough that I want it “all” for you. LOVE the wetlands.
to risa's comment
Absolutely beautiful! Congratulations :)
to Sherri's comment
Congratulations! Wow, twenty acres! A river runs through it too? I want that house. :)
to Lee's comment
It’s 147 acres not 20.
to Deb's comment
We found out at closing it’s actually more like 152…bonus!
to Susy's comment
The pictures are wonderful. I googled Liberty and it looks equally wonderful. Good luck!
Jenny
to Jennifer Krieger's comment
Congratulations on your new “freedom” home. I love the name of the community.
to Denimflyz's comment
Congrats!! You gonna bring “Gluey”, lol?? :)
to Dawn Roberts's comment
Don’t tempt us. We’re hoping to find a farm with great milk like yours.
to Susy's comment
…I love it! The creek, the house, the garden spot, the trees – perfect! And I even love the name of the town too. :o)
…I know this has been a dream of yours and I’m so happy to see it come to life. It couldn’t of happened to a nicer couple – again, congratulations!
…There’s gonna be so much blog fodder in the future I can tell! Lookin’ forward to it!
…Enjoy your day!
…Blessings :o)
to tj's comment
So Awesome!!
I can see it now…at a little natural food store near me: Chiot’s Maple Syrup, maple butter, and maple sugar candy….ooh baby!
Actually, that leads me to wonder will you pack up the Chiot’s name and take it with you? :)
Amazing story–so happy everything worked so well for you all!
to whit's comment
We’ve been discussing the moving of “Chiot’s Run” and whether it should move too or if something new would be better. So far most people think the name should move too. I’ll make sure I ask here on the blog, I’m sure all of you readers will have an opinion.
to Susy's comment
Congratulations! It looks like a beautiful property (and that is a lovely area, not too far away from where we live).
Not sure what our small urban garden measures in acres. :)
to Anne-Marie's comment
Mazaltov/congratulations. The new homestead looks wonderful. Wishing you much happiness when you get settled into your new home. I adore your blog
Best regards
Avrom
to Avrom Shalom's comment
Your Blog is listed on my sidebar and I read every post. I can’t wait to follow this journey with you on your new farm. What an exciting development in your lives.
to Canned Quilter's comment
I keep coming back to look at these photos. I’m so envious! You really can be totally self-sufficient with this property! :-)
to Rhonda's comment
Looks Great!!! We have a little less than an acre.Sounds liike you can take your time packing up and moving out which is ideal!
to Kathi Cook's comment
Congratulations Susy and Mr. Chiots! I was wondering if you had found anything you liked! The property looks amazing, can’t wait to see it become “our” new home too :)
to Jaye's comment
That property looks MAGNIFICENT!
Its funny, kind of sad to see you leave the place you have been working on so diligently for so long, but the place in Maine?
WOW!
And do you mean the garden in my yard or the garden in my mind? :)
to Chicago Mike's comment
wow, the house looks amazing – and huge! I can’t wait to see more. Congratulations
to Brenda's comment
Oh my god, that is amazing!! Can I ask what price-range it was in (to the nearest 100,000, I mean, not anything anywhere near exact)? I’m still in the researching part, and still trying to figure out if I should hold out for the Perfect Place, or admit that it will never be in my price range and settle for something okay instead of perfect.
to Erin's comment
$299,000.000 was the final price. Not bad considering it’s only about 1/3 more than our tiny house on 3/4 acre here. Our biggest issue was dealing with the bank when purchasing such a large chunk of property. Be patient, you’ll find something perfect someday!
to Susy's comment
Oh thank god, that is exactly what I was hoping you would say. Right now, 300K is the top of my price range. You have given me great hope!
to Erin's comment
Again congratulations. I would love enough land that I wouldn’t have to see other people. :) My veggie gardens in acres would be approximately 1/4 acre, and it needs to be more like an acre.
to dkswife's comment
I’m with you, I have about 1/4 of an acre and could definitely use about an acre for food.
to Susy's comment
That property is beautiful. If I were looking to leave Mt. Desert Island, that area would be high on my list of places to consider. You will be close to Belfast which is a great big town/little city. You’ll have a Reny’s close by too which in Maine is considered to be a real plus.
I have 12.5 acres but most of it is wooded. Yours having a lot cleared is gorgeous.
to jennifer fisk's comment
Congratulations on the new house! It looks lovely. We camped nearby last summer in Searsport. It was my first time in Maine – definitely a beautiful state to live in.
Once you’ve moved, if you ever feel like camping on the ocean, I recommend the Searsport Shores Ocean Campground. We used the walk-in-camping, but they seem to like those little campers that you have: http://searsportshores.com/2012/06/27/for-michele/
to June's comment
Thanks for the recommendation, we’ll definitely look into that.
to Susy's comment
Wow Susy congratulations. It looks like a beautiful place! I’m really glad it worked out for you. I look forward to hearing more about your new farm!!
to Rick's comment
Ahhh…..A little piece of Heaven :)
to Tammey's comment
Congratulations!
to Sierra N Hampl's comment
Welcome downeast.. :)
to Trish's comment
Congrats! Welcome to Maine.
to Lisa's comment
So happy for you both! Congrats! It’s absolutely lovely. Can’t wait to see what you do with it, Suzy!
to Melissa's comment
Oh my goodness congratulations and welcome to my neck of the woods! You will enjoy Belfast and it’s down to earth community. We will have to meet up for coffee at Chase’s Daily once you are settled. You and will Mr. Chiots will love discovering all the local delights! Belfast also has a fabulous farmers market!
to Stone soup's comment
It’s perfect!!! So excited for you!
to Christine's comment
that is fantastic! We are looking for our hobby farm so I understand how hard finding property can be! Congrats
to Candie's comment