Buying a Second Home in Southern Maine (2026 Guide)

Southern Maine summers are the kind people plan their whole year around — lobster fresh off the boat, sailing out of Camp Ellis, long beach days in Old Orchard Beach, and golf courses with ocean views. Add in easy access to Acadia National Park and, come winter, skiing near Moosehead Lake, and it’s easy to see why so many buyers fall for a second home here. The six coastal towns I work in most are Old Orchard Beach, Saco, Biddeford, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, and Cape Elizabeth — each with its own personality, and each about 90 minutes from Boston Logan and just minutes from the Portland Jetport.

I’m Robert Thibodeau, Associate Broker with eXp Realty Maine, and I spend my days helping buyers find second homes across Southern Maine — oceanfront properties, downtown condos, seasonal cottages, all of it. Call or text 207-880-9995 and let’s talk about what you’re picturing.

Buying From Out of State? Here’s Why eXp Realty Makes This Easier

A large share of second home buyers in Southern Maine are coming from somewhere else — Massachusetts, New York, Florida, and beyond. If you’ve bought or sold with an eXp Realty agent anywhere else in the country, that familiarity works in your favor here. I’m an Associate Broker with eXp Realty Maine, part of a network of more than 80,000 agents across the U.S. and internationally, all working inside the same referral system and agent-to-agent culture eXp is known for.

In practice, that means if you already have a relationship with an eXp agent back home, they can refer you directly to me and we can coordinate your Southern Maine purchase together — you’re not starting from scratch with a local office you’ve never heard of. It’s a meaningfully different experience than working with a small independent brokerage, however well-regarded locally, that has no name or network your current agent would recognize. With eXp, the brand, systems, and referral relationships travel with you.

How to Buy a Second Home in Southern Maine

• Picture how you’ll use it. Weekends, whole summers, or a mix of personal time and rental income — that shapes everything else.
• Get pre-approved early. Second-home financing works a little differently than a primary residence, and it’s a quick conversation with the right lender.
• Pick your town based on lifestyle. OOB for the boardwalk energy, Scarborough for the marsh and beaches, Saco for value and river access, Biddeford Pool for quiet coastal charm, Kennebunkport for the village, Cape Elizabeth for year-round luxury near Portland.
• Let me handle the details. Rental rules, HOA documents, inspections, timing — that’s what I’m here for. You focus on picturing yourself there.
• Close, and start enjoying it. First lobster dinner on the deck is on you.

Why Southern Maine for a Second Home?

Summers here are genuinely something else. Sandy beaches for miles, harbor towns full of lobster shacks, sailing and fishing right off the coast, paddleboarding, kayaking, whale watching out of Kennebunkport, and golf courses with ocean views. Portland’s restaurant and arts scene is a short drive away for a night out, outlet shopping and the flagship LL Bean store in Freeport make for an easy day trip, and when you’re ready to explore further, Acadia National Park is a scenic few hours up the coast — one of the most beautiful spots in the country.

And your second home doesn’t have to sit empty once the leaves turn. Come winter, Southern Maine puts you within a few hours of some of the best skiing in the Northeast — Sunday River and Sugarloaf both draw skiers and riders all season, and there’s an enormous network of snowmobile trails across the state for anyone who wants to explore Maine on a sled. Add in Moosehead Lake for a true north-woods winter escape, and your Southern Maine home works as a base for four full seasons, not just one.

Getting here is easy, too. Portland International Jetport sits right next to Scarborough, and Boston Logan is about 90 minutes south — both make Southern Maine an easy second-home market for buyers coming from out of state, whether you’re local to New England or flying in from anywhere else in the country.

Plenty of owners also choose to rent their property when they’re not using it, which can help offset costs — Old Orchard Beach and the Biddeford Pool area see especially strong summer rental demand. Every town handles rentals a little differently, and I’ll walk you through exactly what’s realistic for the property you’re considering — that’s a conversation we’ll have together, not something you need to research on your own.

The Six Towns — What to Know

Renting It Out When You’re Not There

Thinking about renting your second home when you’re not using it? Plenty of owners do, and it can help offset the cost of ownership nicely. The specifics — town rules, HOA restrictions, all of it — vary property by property, and that’s exactly what I help buyers sort through along the way. Bring me the property you’re excited about, and I’ll tell you what’s realistic.

Frequently Asked Questions — Second Homes in Southern Maine