BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 20, 2022
Conservationists say the red-hot real estate market that started heating up at the onset of the pandemic has made it harder to preserve land in Maine. Many land trusts in Maine operate under strict standards that dictate the trusts get independent appraisals for properties and only pay for the land’s actual value. The rules ensure prudent spending of donor’s money and prevent trusts from entering bidding wars on properties. But when properties can go for much higher than their asking price, land trusts can be left in the dust. The amount of time it can take for trusts to secure properties also puts them at a disadvantage. A lack of appraisers who do conservation valuations in Maine has also contributed to holding things up.