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A quick glimpse at what's happening with rate movement, the economy and the housing market:

Maine broke records for the number of homes sold and the median price in 2018. For the fourth consecutive year, Maine home sales set a new record in 2018 as 17,983 single family homes were sold, representing an increase of 1.0% over 2017 when total volume was 17,810. The year-to-date median single-family price of $215,000 represented a 7.5% increase over 2017.  Overall, pricing was up in 13 of Maine’s 16 counties, and remained consistent in two. The highest single month was May at $244,839, followed by April and then March. Each month of 2018 was higher than 2017. Between 2007 and 2011 median prices declined each year, reaching their lowest level in 2011 at $165,000.  From 2012 onward, pricing has increased ever year, with one exception - 2014. Maine's growth in home sales' volume and price for the year outpaced that of the nation.  Average median prices ranged from $307,000 in Cumberland County to $90,000 in Aroostook County.

(New!) Tax Deductions for Homeowners: How the New Tax Law Affects Mortgage Interest Tax changes for 2019 change the landscape for homeowners. Read Copyright 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

  HouseLogic’s Top-10 List of New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home When the new year arrives, promises and resolutions abound. Here’s the top-10 list of what the resolute home owner should accomplish this year. Read Copyright 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

3 Ways To Have a Merry Greenmas You can make the holidays more eco-friendly by putting a green twist on Christmas traditions. Here are 3 smart ways to green up your holiday. Read Copyright 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

A major appliance should never be an impulse buy.  Pinpoint the best moments to buy, on and offline, and you can save yourself some money! When it comes to landing bargains on major appliances, timing is everything. And the best time to buy home appliances is when stores need you more than you need a new home appliance. Generally, that means you can get more value for your money: September, October, and January when manufacturers roll out new home appliance models, and retailers are eager to move last year’s inventory. (Refrigerators are the exception. New models come out in the spring.) Last days of the month when stores are desperate to meet quotas and are more likely to dicker over prices. Thursday , the day before the weekend rush when aisles are less crowded. Major holidays -- Labor Day, Memorial Day, President’s Day, Black Thursday (Friday, Saturday) -- when stores take advantage of your day off and slash prices. Fall and winter are the best seasons to buy air