South Portland ME Overview
"Just over the bridge," from Portland sits South Portland nestled between the Fore River, Cape Elizabeth, and Scarborough, and offering breathtaking views of the Portland Waterfront, Casco Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. With plenty of local commercial options, South Portland is a quieter alternative for finding a home compared to its larger neighbor Portland. With its own grocery stores, restaurants, bars, and plenty of natural exploration opportunities, South Portland offers a diverse array of living arrangements, from riverside condos to seaside homes to inland wooded communities.
South Portland Real Estate Overview
The South Portland ME housing market currently has about 130 units on the market... 80 homes and 41 condos. In 2009 the median sold price for residential real estate clocked in at 190K down about 5% from 199K in 2008 and off about 15% from peak pricing seen in 2006/2007. Volume was healthy with a strong surge in the 2nd half of 2009 helped along by historically low rates and the Maine first time home buyer tax credit. Learn more about the Sout Portland markets with our free Sout Portland Buyers Packet.
South Portland Housing Graphs
Below are historical housing charts for South Portland
Please click on an image to enlarge.
Historical Transaction Volume

|
Historical Pricing
 |
Back to Top
A Strong Economic Center
South Portland hosts the Maine Mall, Maine's largest indoor shopping center, and also to some of Maine's largest port facilities. Its proximity to Portland's airport, as well as to the Maine Turnpike and I-295, make it a central location to many commercial activities. South Portland's northern end is dominated by the Southern Maine Community College campus, which overlooks Casco Bay and is considered the strongest technical college in the State.
The Natural Beauty of the South Portland Coastline
South Portland, along with many of its neighbors, boasts a pristine coast with plenty of opportunities for residential living on or near the shore. In fact, a large portion of South Portland is within walking distance to either Casco Bay or the Fore River. The Southern Maine Community College area and the Fort Prebble area boast fantastic views of Portland Harbor and the Bay, while the Front Street area offers a considerable amount of affordable housing within five minutes walking distance to the river itself.
A Local Scene
The city is home to many playing fields, youth leagues, churches and local businesses, along with two of the Greater Portland Area's most accomplished community theater houses, The Portland Players and Lyric Theater. Some of the areas best restaurants are in South Portland, including Beale Street Barbeque, the Weathervane Seasfood Restaurant, Thai Taste, Joe's Boat House, and the Saltwater Grille
Back to Top
A History of Trade and Ship Building
South Portland's direct access to Casco Bay and the Fore River have made it a historical location for ship building, and saw extensive action as a major construction site for Liberty Ships during the second World War. During the war in the 40's, the ports served as a major employer of thousands of women.
Due to the need to establish a faster direct route between Portland and South Portland, the Federal Government issued permits to build what would eventually be called the Million Dollar Bridge. The bridge served to span the two cities until the mid 1990's when the current Casco Bay Bridge was built to allow for increased shipping capacity in Portland and South Portland Harbors. This was particularly important as the Portland and South Portland areas have become major entry points for liquefied natural gas and oil into the North East, at locations beyond the bridge on the Fore River.
Thanks for reading about South Portland Maine real estate, the community and homes and condo's within.
Back to Top |