M
aine's housing market is experiencing a surge in inventory, with over 7,300 listings in May - a 31% increase from the same period last year. However, this growth doesn't extend to rustic waterfront camps, which remain scarce and expensive. According to Redfin, the average price of a Maine home was around $403,000 in May, up 2.5% from the previous year.

    Realtors like Kara Bickford note that traditional Maine camps are no longer affordable for the average person. These properties have either been passed down through families or transformed into larger, year-round homes. A search on Zillow yielded only 286 waterfront camp listings in Maine, with prices ranging from $30,000 to over $4 million.

    While some buyers can still find modest but affordable camps in rural areas, the prices of seasonal homes with waterfront access have skyrocketed. Bickford recalls that a decade ago, buyers could find a quality lakehouse for around $300,000; today, similar properties are listed for at least $500,000 to $600,000.

    Fran Riley, a Belfast-based real estate agent, sold a seasonal camp on Swan Lake for $89,000 20 years ago and resold it for nearly $400,000 a few years later. She attributes the dwindling supply of camps to people holding onto properties longer, either to pass them down or renovate them into year-round homes.

    The rising cost of housing has made it difficult for Mainers to afford primary residences, with many struggling to find stable and affordable housing. Realtors warn that camps are generally pricier than they once were, but Dolly Perkins notes that buyers who manage their finances well can still afford a camp if they have few other expenses.