Southern Maine Second Home Guide

Cape Elizabeth Maine Second Homes for Sale

Portland Head Light at Fort Williams Park — Cape Elizabeth’s most iconic landmark

Cape Elizabeth is Portland’s coastal neighbor — a quiet, residential town with dramatic rocky shoreline, three state and municipal parks, two historic lighthouses, and some of the most sought-after real estate in Southern Maine. There’s no downtown strip or tourist district here. What Cape Elizabeth offers is top-rated schools, wide open green space, and an address five minutes from Portland’s Old Port restaurants and arts scene. For second home buyers, Cape Elizabeth Maine real estate represents the luxury end of the Southern Maine market with year-round appeal.

I’m Robert Thibodeau, Associate Broker with eXp Realty, and I help buyers find second homes across Southern Maine — from beach cottages in Old Orchard Beach to waterfront estates in Cape Elizabeth. Call or text 207-880-9995.

Search Cape Elizabeth Homes for Sale

Live MLS listings, updated in real time:

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Tell me what you want — I’ll set up a custom search and alert you the moment it hits the market.

Where in Cape Elizabeth? Know the Neighborhoods

Cape Elizabeth is a small town with a lot of variety in its housing — from rocky oceanfront lots to wooded family neighborhoods set back from the coast:

Shore Road & Delano Park

Shore Road runs from South Portland into the heart of Cape Elizabeth, passing Rosemont Market and leading toward Fort Williams Park. Delano Park, tucked along the coast nearby, is one of the town’s most established oceanfront neighborhoods — older homes with character, ocean views, and walking distance to Portland Head Light. Cape Elizabeth waterfront properties in this area rarely last long on the market.

Two Lights & Broad Cove

Named for the twin Cape Elizabeth Light towers, this area sits along the rocky southeastern shore. Two Lights State Park draws visitors for the dramatic cliff views, and the neighborhood around it offers some of the most scenic residential lots in the greater Portland area. Broad Cove neighbors Two Lights with oceanfront homes perched above the shoreline.

Pond Cove & Town Center

The area around Pond Cove Shopping Center and the elementary school — the closest thing Cape Elizabeth has to a village center. Family-oriented, walkable to the school and library, with a mix of mid-century homes and newer construction. A practical base for buyers who want the Cape Elizabeth address and schools without necessarily paying for oceanfront.

Cross Hill & Elizabeth Farms

Upscale residential neighborhoods with larger lots, some with marsh views. These areas represent the newer construction end of Cape Elizabeth — more space, more privacy, and a different feel from the older coastal neighborhoods closer to the water.

Crescent Beach & Kettle Cove

Crescent Beach State Park is one of the best sandy beaches near Portland, and Kettle Cove adds a smaller, rockier beach nearby. Homes in this part of town get easy beach access in a setting that feels more remote than it is — Portland is still ten minutes away.

Want to compare these in person — or over video from wherever you are? I’ll walk you through them.

Cape Elizabeth Second Home Questions, Answered

Does Cape Elizabeth allow short-term rentals?

Cape Elizabeth has its own rules on rental properties. Rules change — check the town’s current ordinances directly before making any decisions based on rental income:

→ Town of Cape Elizabeth — Official Website

What makes Cape Elizabeth different from other Southern Maine second home towns?

Cape Elizabeth is the only town in this series that borders Portland directly — you get dramatic coastline and residential quiet with a major city’s restaurant scene, airport, and cultural calendar five minutes away. It’s also more of a year-round community than a seasonal one, which appeals to buyers thinking about eventual full-time use.

Does my HOA allow rentals?

If you’re buying in a neighborhood with an HOA, the association’s rules on rentals run separately from the town’s. I review association documents with every buyer so there are no surprises after closing.

Questions About Taxes & Rental Rules?

Owning a second home in Maine comes with tax and regulatory details that matter — lodging tax on short-term rentals, nonresident withholding when you sell, and rules that vary by town and change regularly. I’m a real estate broker, not a tax advisor or attorney, so I point my buyers to the right sources and the right professionals rather than try to play one on the internet.

Here’s where to start:
→ Maine Law Library — Vacation & Casual Rental Tax
→ Maine Revenue Services — Sales Tax Rates & Due Dates
→ Maine Revenue Services — Real Estate Withholding (nonresident sellers)
→ Real Estate Withholding FAQ

Before you buy, talk to a CPA or tax attorney who understands both Maine and your home state. I can connect you with local professionals who work with out-of-state buyers regularly.

Explore Cape Elizabeth & Nearby Second Home Markets

More Cape Elizabeth resources:
→ Cape Elizabeth Area Guide & All Listings
→ Portland Listings
→ South Portland Listings

Second homes in nearby towns: Each of these coastal towns has its own character, price points, and rental rules — worth comparing before you decide.
→ Old Orchard Beach Second Homes for Sale — the classic beach town: pier district energy, condo inventory, strongest rental demand
→ Saco Second Homes for Sale — Camp Ellis, Bay View, and Ferry Beach; quieter side of the same coastline
→ Biddeford & Biddeford Pool Second Homes for Sale — classic seaside village feel at the Pool, revitalized downtown mill district
→ Scarborough Maine Second Homes for Sale — Higgins Beach, Pine Point, and Prouts Neck; the luxury end of the market
→ Kennebunkport Second Homes for Sale — Dock Square village, Cape Porpoise harbor, Goose Rocks Beach
→ All Southern Maine Second Homes — Compare Six Towns

More Southern Maine guides:
→ Buying a Second Home in Southern Maine (Complete Guide)
→ Best Beaches in Southern Maine
→ Relocating to Southern Maine
→ How to Buy a Home in Maine

Buying in Cape Elizabeth from Out of State? I’ll Make It Easy.

I’m Robert Thibodeau, Associate Broker with eXp Realty, based in Old Orchard Beach and covering the entire Southern Maine coast from Kennebunkport to Cape Elizabeth. Most of my second home buyers start this process from hundreds of miles away — so I’ve built my business around making distance a non-issue: live video showings on your schedule, straight answers on town rules before you commit, and coordination with local lenders, inspectors, and title companies so your closing runs smoothly whether you’re here or home.

Before real estate, I spent 25 years in high-end automotive sales, retiring as General Manager of Mercedes-Benz of Scarborough. The standard is the same: know the product, tell the truth, and take care of people long after the sale.

Robert Thibodeau | Associate Broker, Realtor® | eXp Realty | License #BA930057 | 207-880-9995
Get in touch — happy to talk through any town, any property, no pressure.