Housing
This section of the BDN aims to help readers understand Maine’s housing crisis, the volatile real estate market and the public policy behind them. Read more Housing coverage here.
A private estate in Scarborough that offers a tennis court, an indoor swimming pool and an elevator hit the market on Monday with a $3.5 million asking price.
With more than 10,000 square feet of living space, the seven-bedroom, eight-bathroom house on Wildwood Lane sits on nearly 13 acres that’s entirely fenced-in.
The property is located at the end of a cul-de-sac and is surrounded by conservation land, making it exceptionally quiet and private, said David Jones of F.O. Bailey Real Estate, the listing agent for the property. But the home is still centrally located and just a five-minute drive from both Higgins Beach and Scarborough Beach.
“It’s in the heart of Scarborough and everything — shopping, the airport, beaches — are within a stone’s throw,” Jones said. “You don’t see something like this every day.”
The sellers designed and built the home in 1995 and raised their two daughters there over the last 30 years, Jones said. The house is made of white brick, marble and concrete, making it solid and giving it a “stately” appearance.
“They’ve enjoyed it for 30 years and, and now it’s time to move on,” Jones said. “The kids are grown and the sellers have ideas and things they want to do next.”
The $3.5 million asking price is significantly more than the median home value in Scarborough, which has steadily climbed in recent years to surpass $666,000, Zillow data shows.
While the home has eye-catching features and luxury finishes throughout, Jones said the thoughtful layout makes it stand out among other properties.
“Some houses are opulent, but don’t flow well,” Jones said. “This floor plan is well-thought-out, not awkward. It has a lot of square footage, but when you’re in it, it doesn’t feel like that.”
All the bedrooms — and a dance studio — are on the second floor of the house while the finished basement holds an indoor pool, sauna, and plenty of additional living and entertaining space.
The main floor, meanwhile, is dedicated to the living and dining areas, the large gourmet kitchen and two private office or den spaces. It’s tied together by the grand foyer, with a sweeping spiral staircase and towering ceilings.
“You could put a two-story Christmas tree there — it’s just a beautiful room,” Jones said. “It’s built like a castle and beautiful inside and out.”
The home also has an elevator, making it safe for someone with mobility limitations or a family looking to stay in their home for years, Jones said.
Aside from a three-car attached garage, the property has a fenced-in tennis court and two outbuildings that are now used for storage.
The home’s sprawling space, many features and central location make it perfect for a large family, especially one who loves to host.
“No one will be fighting over a bedroom or a closet, everyone can spread out and have their own space,” Jones said. “When you all want to hang out together and watch a TV show, there’s a room for that too.”