Luxury farm worth $1.5 million being given away for free… if you can deal with a ‘weird situation’

A property owner in one of the priciest parts of a Maine giving away his picturesque farmland for free.

But, as the well known adage goes, nothing is ever really free, and there’s a few catches with this real estate deal. 

Firstly, the farmhouse and barn aren’t part of the sale and the property has no water or power. 

The owner of the property, Mike Maher, bought the 34-acre farm on Harpswell Neck Road for $1.5 million in 2021 with the intention of developing the seven acre property into a business school and organic farm.

When his plans fell short, he decided to offer a 50 to 100-year lease at no charge in exchange for someone who could farm the land. 

‘I’m a big believer of small organic farms,’ he told the Bangor Daily News.

Maher’s vision was to create an organic farm that mixed includes a mix of vegetables, animals and orchards. One of the unique selling points of his land is that it is home to one of the state’s oldest apple trees.

The businessman, who is originally from Cumberland County and lives in Colorado, said he spends summers at the farmhouse, and rents it out over the winter on Airbnb.

‘I’ll always keep the farmhouse,’ he said.

He further explained: ‘I know it’s a weird situation.’

Maher acquired the sprawling 3,370-square-foot waterfront farm after selling most of his San Francisco-based boutique clothing company to a private equity firm three years ago.

Local tax records assess the land’s value at an estimated $1.36 million. 

These days, acquiring land in Cumberland County has been unattainable with vacant land in the area scarce.

There are no other pieces of cultivable land available for sale or lease in Harpswell, according to the Maine MLS website.

There’s never been a more challenging time to buy land in Maine, particularly in the mid-coast region where Maher’s land is located, because of high prices. 

Many farmers are even renting their land – but none have given it away for free.

Maine Farmland Trust first posted the offer to their Facebook page on Saturday. The land can even be used for cannabis production.

Maher detailed the history of the farm on the Maine Farmlink Facebook page. 

‘The farmland has great soil (had it tested) but has not been used as farm land in many decades (assuming 75 at least),’ he wrote.

‘From the family I bought it from it never seems as though it was heavily farmed. They probably had a few cows grazing at some point and had vegetable gardens.’ 

‘I would love to have a farmer who is interesting in having a mix of vegetable, animals and potentially orchard farm the land. Ideally regenerative organically but at least following organic practices. 

‘We also have the oldest Baldwin apple tree in the state of Maine as certified by MOFGA on the property so there is some apple heritage as well.

‘I am willing to give a free very long term (think 50 years) lease on the land to a capable farmer who is willing to make the improvements necessary to improve the land and farm it. 

He added, in part, ‘I am also willing to help on the brand and marketing side of the business.

Since the posting, Maher claimed he has received five to six inquiries.

He said: ‘I don’t want to make money from this. I just want to find a way to make sure this farm is viable for the next generation.’

He believes the open land would be ideal for an established farm or provide space for a new one.

The new tenant would have to pay for a well to be drilled on the property as well as having it wired for electricity, the news outlet reported.

Maher appears confident the land will go to the right person and does not believe the caveats will be a barrier for potential farmers.

‘It just proves commitment,’ he said, ‘a rare opportunity, if a complicated one.’