Have your own private island in Maine for less than $5 million-but with one little catch

By Kristine Hansen

The home was built in 1914 and has been owned by the same family for 70 years

A private island in Maine, home to a storied estate, recently landed on the market for just $5 million-but potential buyers might want to think twice before snapping up this isolated oasis.

Built in 1914 and owned by the same family for 70 years, the island's four-bedroom main house offers unobstructed views of the water from nearly every room.

The estate, known as Birch Island, is near South Bristol, Maine. Joseph Sortwell of LandVest/Christie's International Real Estate listed the property for $4,985,000-a relatively low sum for the privilege of owning an actual island.

See: Here are 5 private islands with houses you can buy for under $2 million

And there's plenty on offer for the price. Birch Island abounds with Mediterranean Revival charm, plenty of room to host guests, and just over 11 acres. There's also a private, gated footbridge to access the island.

Wait, a footbridge?

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That's right. Until-and unless-a new owner installs a dock, you'll likely have to schlep all of your stuff on foot to the island over this little bridge.

A possible year-round residence?

The house was originally designed by Samuel R.T. Very for horticulturalist Emily Means. Meanwhile, the current sellers are the island's third owners.

"They just redid a significant portion of the house, repainting its stucco and reglazing the windows," says Sortwell. "They were able to bring all the materials over, across the footbridge. It's the only island on the coast that you can drive a golf course onto. Most islands are offshore, and you can only access by dock or boat."

Future renovations would likely require a combination of the existing footbridge and a barge to bring in materials, he adds.

"It's really one of the most dynamic properties that I've been involved in along the coast, because you can really let your kids go on the island, and they can feel completely safe," Sortwell says.

While the sellers used the place as a summer home, it could easily be refashioned as a year-round residence.

"We did a full environmental evaluation and land use development plan on the island to analyze what you would be able to do," says Sortwell, adding that the property already has mainland power, which is rare.

Plus, modern conveniences aren't too far away.

"You are really close to Christmas Cove, which is a historic summer community along the coast where there is a club," he notes.

Searching for the right buyer

According to Sortwell, some furnishings could be included in a final deal.

"There are some pieces they're going to take and other pieces they'd be open to leaving," he says. "They're not going to be stripping the house up by any means. They're keeping it with the historic charm, with a lot of detail inside."

In fact, Sortwell hopes a preservation-minded steward puts in an offer.

"My vision for the island is to restore the home that is there," he says, noting the estate's bones are great. "There's room on the island to build a larger home if one chose, and have this house as the guesthouse or the main meeting house and build more cabins in a Nordic style to create your own summer camp."

He believes the buyer will likely already own a vacation property in the Hamptons, Newport, or Nantucket-but desire more room to spread out and potentially develop.

"You can have three to five generations of people spending time together on the coast ... and develop what you want without being squeezed by neighbors," says Sortwell. "We are seeing more and more along the coast that people are getting away from the large house and creating a main gathering house that might have a kitchen, dining [area], and a place everyone can sit around the fireplace-plus smaller cabins, especially with multigenerational properties like this."

This story originally ran on Realtor.com.

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08-23-24 0504ET

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