The days are getting shorter and the air is getting colder, but there are still a handful of classic waterfront camps on the market.
Maine’s real estate market tends to be busiest throughout the warmer months, but things remain active through September and into October. In fact, buyers and sellers are usually motivated to finalize sales before the snow arrives, according to Judy Oberg, Maine Association of Realtors president and Associate Broker at Oberg Insurance & Real Estate Agency.
“As additional for-sale inventory comes onto the market, buyers have more opportunities and leverage to negotiate,” Oberg said. “Properties that are appropriately priced for their condition within their market are getting attention and selling.”
This presents an opportunity for someone to scoop up a rustic Maine camp at a reasonable price and have it ready before next summer.
We found five lakefront cabins, most of which are in northern Maine, that are each available for less than $250,000. That’s a little more than half the statewide median sale price for a home, which the Maine Association of Realtors placed at $429,000 this summer.
Greene, $234,000
This one-bedroom, one-bathroom home is perched on the shore of Sabattus Pond in Greene, roughly 20 minutes from Lewiston and a 40-minute drive from Augusta.
Built in 1933, the camp offers 920 square feet of living space with a dock, an enclosed porch and a wood-paneled interior. The main floor has an open floor plan with a kitchen equipped with a microwave, electric stove and refrigerator, according to the listing. The upper floor holds space for a few beds as well as a bathroom.
It hit the market in June 2026 for $250,000, but that asking price has been bumped down a few times and now rests at $234,000, the online listing shows. It last sold in 2024 for $225,000.
T17 R3 WELS, $225,000
Nestled on the southeastern end of Long Lake, this two-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage is located about an hour north of Presque Isle and a few miles from the Canadian border.
The 650-square-foot camp was initially listed in June for $258,500, but the asking price has since been lowered to $225,000.
Built in 1959, the home has a wide deck overlooking the water, a kitchen with plenty of counter space, room to gather and a woodstove.
The property also includes a 1,007-square-foot detached barn with overhead storage space, which could hold a boat, recreational vehicles or serve as a workshop.
Marshfield, $245,000
This 1,500-square-foot camp on a 1-acre lot in Marshfield hit the market in March with a $245,000 price tag.
The three-bedroom, one-bathroom home sits near the southern tip of Six Mile Lake, a less than 10-minute drive northwest of Machias, and has roughly 200 feet of waterfront.
The rustic camp’s living room has cathedral ceilings and a large stone fireplace. A spiral staircase leads upstairs where a catwalk connects to a small deck and additional sleeping space.
Outside, the property has a large back deck with sweeping water views, as well as an attached one-car garage for storage.
Cross Lake Township, $155,000
Built in 1960, this log cabin-style home sits directly on the Cross Lake Thoroughfare, which runs between Cross Lake and Mud Lake in The County. This allows residents to easily access both lakes using a kayak, canoe or small boat.
The camp has one bedroom, one bathroom, and 680 square feet of living space. The main living space has an open floor plan with towering ceilings and plenty of wood paneling. A loft offers additional sleeping space.
The property also includes a three-season porch and a 775-square-foot Quonset hut for additional storage.
The cabin was listed in late August for $155,000 after it last sold in late 2022 for $117,000.
Westmanland, $220,000
This octagonal cottage sits on the southwestern edge of Little Madawaska Lake, a roughly 30-minute drive northwest of Caribou.
The asking price of $220,000 has remained steady since the property hit the market in mid-July, according to the listing.
Built in 1900, the camp has one bedroom, one bathroom and more than 660 square feet of living space. The main living area and kitchen features an open floor plan while a large wraparound deck offers unobstructed water views.
The half-acre property includes 103 feet of shortline, a storage shed and a private well.