The HELPER Act would eliminate both the downpayment and monthly mortgage insurance premium requirements for ‘helpers,’ including firefighters and medical first responders.
Hannah LaClaire
Staff Writer
Hannah LaClaire is a business reporter at the Portland Press Herald, covering Maine’s housing crisis, real estate and development, entrepreneurship, the state's cannabis industry and a little bit of everything else. Before joining the Press Herald in 2021, Hannah covered the town of Brunswick for The Times Record. In her free time, she enjoys reading, running and weekends up at camp. She lives in Springvale with her husband and daughter, their dog and two tuxedo cats.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Maine cannabis businesses call bill a ‘beacon of hope,’ but regulators say it’s too risky
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Craig Hickman, D-Kennebec, would make sweeping changes to rules governing Maine’s adult-use and medical cannabis markets.
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Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
The economy is booming. So, why don’t people feel better about it?
A disconnect exists between big-picture indicators like unemployment and wages and the reality of day-to-day life for many in Maine, where groceries and housing costs remain stubbornly high.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Complaint alleges Maine Supreme Judicial Court justice violated ethics code
A Yarmouth attorney’s complaint says Justice Catherine Connors should have recused herself from a recent foreclosure case, which overturned a precedent set in a prior case where she represented a major bank.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Proposed bill would help Maine businesses recover from recent storms
Legislation backed by both parties would create a $50 million relief program for small businesses.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Maine high court ruling corrects foreclosure loophole; critics say it weakens homeowner protections
Previously, if a lender made a mistake when sending a default letter to a borrower, the mortgage was deemed unenforceable, leaving the borrower with a free house.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Maine home sales broke records in 2023. But not the good kind.
The median sales price rose to $360,000 last year – and more than $500,000 in Cumberland County – as high demand and low inventory continue to squeeze the real estate market.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
With increased demand for home contractors in Maine, is the time right for licensing requirements?
Maine is one of just 15 states that does not require general contractors to be licensed. A bill in the Legislature seeks to change that, although past attempts have been unsuccessful.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Maine’s adult-use cannabis sales continue to grow, but the market is getting crowded
Sales hit $217 million in 2023, a 36% increase over the previous year, although some store owners believe saturation will lead to the closure of some businesses.
Posted inBusiness, Maine
Flooding’s on the rise in Maine, but just 1% of homeowners have insurance
Few Mainers have a policy that covers the kind of severe flooding seen in the Dec. 18 storm. As climate change brings more extreme weather events to the state, the impacts could be costly.