Real Estate & Elegant Maine Living - The Way Life Should Be

Elise Kiely

Elegant Maine Living explores Maine’s luxury real estate market, distinctive properties, and the lifestyle that makes this state such a special place to call home. Hosted by Elise Kiely, a top-producing real estate advisor and lifestyle connector with Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty, the podcast features thoughtful conversations with local leaders, creatives, and visionaries who embody the spirit of elegant living in Maine. Whether you're buying, selling, or simply Maine-curious, each episode offers insight, inspiration, and a deeper connection to the people and places that define Maine.

  1. 1D AGO

    Maine Real Estate & Resilience: Building a Staging Business Through Changing Markets with Elizabeth Carper (Part 2 of 2)

    Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to build a business—and sustain it through changing markets, uncertainty, and growth? In this second half of my conversation with Elizabeth Carper of The Styled Home, we go beyond staging and into her remarkable entrepreneurial journey. From starting a small home-based business to navigating the financial crisis, COVID, and today’s evolving real estate market, Elizabeth shares candid insights on resilience, reinvention, and long-term success. We also talk about the realities of building a business without a clear roadmap—and the mindset that has guided her along the way, grounded in gratitude, hard work, and a genuine love for what she does. Whether you are a homeowner, a real estate professional, or someone considering starting a business of your own, this conversation offers both practical advice and meaningful perspective. Connect with The Styled Home 🌐 https://www.thestyledhomeme.com  📧 elizabeth@thestyledhomeme.com Elegant Maine Living explores Maine’s homes, communities, and people—through the lens of lifestyle, values, and thoughtful living. I host conversations with leaders, creators, and advisors who help illuminate what it truly means to live well in Maine. Connect with Elise 🌐 Website & Listings: EliseKiely.com 📸 Follow Elise on Social Media: Instagram: @elisekielyrealestateFacebook: Elise Kiely Real Estate LinkedIn: Elise Kiely Have Questions or Topic Suggestions, e-mail Elise at  Elise@EliseKiely.com Subscribe, share with a friend, and join Elise every other week to discover what makes Maine not just beautiful—but beautifully lived. Please remember this podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not create an attorney client or real estate advisor client relationship.  Please reach out to me directly if I can assist you in your real estate journey.

    28 min

  2. APR 7

    Maine Real Estate: Why Staging Matters with Elizabeth Carper of The Styled Home (Part 1 of 2)

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever walked into a home and immediately felt something—like you could see your life unfolding there? In this episode of Elegant Maine Living, I sit down with Elizabeth Carper, founder of The Styled Home, one of Maine’s leading home staging companies. Elizabeth shares how staging has evolved in Maine, why it plays such a critical role in today’s photo-driven real estate market, and how thoughtful preparation can significantly impact both value and speed of sale. We also explore Elizabeth’s remarkable journey—from a small, home-based design business to building a thriving staging company with a warehouse, team, and trusted vendor network across Southern Maine. Whether you are preparing to sell, love design, or are curious about building a business rooted in creativity and service, this conversation offers both practical insight and inspiration. Connect with Elizabeth Carper & The Styled Home 🌐 Website: https://www.thestyledhomeme.com  📧 Email: elizabeth@thestyledhomeme.com Elegant Maine Living explores Maine’s homes, communities, and people—through the lens of lifestyle, values, and thoughtful living. I host conversations with leaders, creators, and advisors who help illuminate what it truly means to live well in Maine. Connect with Elise 🌐 Website & Listings: EliseKiely.com 📸 Follow Elise on Social Media: Instagram: @elisekielyrealestateFacebook: Elise Kiely Real Estate LinkedIn: Elise Kiely Have Questions or Topic Suggestions, e-mail Elise at  Elise@EliseKiely.com Subscribe, share with a friend, and join Elise every other week to discover what makes Maine not just beautiful—but beautifully lived. Please remember this podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not create an attorney client or real estate advisor client relationship.  Please reach out to me directly if I can assist you in your real estate journey.

    38 min

  3. MAR 31

    Maine & the Great Wealth Transfer: Why Women Will Shape the Future of Wealth and Real Estate

    Send us Fan Mail A historic wealth shift is already underway—what it means for women, Maine, and the future of real estate. What does the great wealth transfer look like in real life—and how is it already impacting Maine? In this second half of my conversation with Amelia Dow, CEO and co-founder of Portland Trust Company, we explore the historic shift of wealth between generations and why women are playing an increasingly powerful role in financial decision-making. We discuss:  The great wealth transfer and its impact on families in Maine  Why women are shaping the future of wealth and investing  Gifting strategies for education and first home purchases  The rise of impact investing and values-based decisions  What this means for Maine real estate and lifestyle A timely and insightful conversation on wealth, opportunity, and what comes next. 🔗 Learn more: https://portlandtrust.com Elegant Maine Living explores Maine’s homes, communities, and people—through the lens of lifestyle, values, and thoughtful living. I host conversations with leaders, creators, and advisors who help illuminate what it truly means to live well in Maine. Connect with Elise 🌐 Website & Listings: EliseKiely.com 📸 Follow Elise on Social Media: Instagram: @elisekielyrealestateFacebook: Elise Kiely Real Estate LinkedIn: Elise Kiely Have Questions or Topic Suggestions, e-mail Elise at  Elise@EliseKiely.com Subscribe, share with a friend, and join Elise every other week to discover what makes Maine not just beautiful—but beautifully lived. Please remember this podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not create an attorney client or real estate advisor client relationship.  Please reach out to me directly if I can assist you in your real estate journey.

    27 min

  4. MAR 24

    The Great Wealth Transfer in Maine: How It’s Reshaping Maine Real Estate and Family Legacy with Amelia Dow

    Send us Fan Mail In thie first half of my conversation with Amelia Dow, we explore the human side of wealth—how it’s built, how it’s managed, and how it’s thoughtfully passed from one generation to the next. If you’ve been hearing about the Great Wealth Transfer and wondering what it actually means for your family, your children, or your future in Maine, this episode offers both clarity and perspective. Amelia shares her remarkable journey—from growing up in Western Maine to building a career in finance, and ultimately co-founding Portland Trust Company—a firm designed to put relationships, not shareholders, at the center of wealth management. What We Cover in This Episode What a trust company actually does (and why it’s different from traditional banking)How trusts work in real life—from grandchildren’s education to complex family dynamicsWhy client-centered wealth management is replacing institutional, shareholder-driven modelsThe founding story of Portland Trust Company—and the courage it took to build something new after the Great RecessionHow Maine’s close-knit professional community supports more thoughtful, relationship-driven advisingKey shifts in wealth management over the past decade, including:A move toward long-term, steady investingIncreased financial literacy and engagement among clientsThe growing trend of lifetime gifting—especially:Helping fund educationAssisting with first home purchasesHow rising home prices and affordability challenges are reshaping generational wealth strategiesThe critical importance of talking openly about money within familiesHow advisors like Amelia help guide not just clients—but their children and grandchildren as well.A Thought to Consider One of the most compelling ideas from this conversation:  It may be more generous—and more effective—to give thoughtfully during your lifetime than to leave uncertainty behind. Learn More To learn more about Amelia and her work: Portland Trust CompanyWebsite: https://www.portlandtrust.comComing Up in Part II In the second half of our conversation, Amelia and I take a deeper dive into: The Great Wealth Transfer and its long-term implicationsWhy women are at the cenElegant Maine Living explores Maine’s homes, communities, and people—through the lens of lifestyle, values, and thoughtful living. I host conversations with leaders, creators, and advisors who help illuminate what it truly means to live well in Maine. Connect with Elise 🌐 Website & Listings: EliseKiely.com 📸 Follow Elise on Social Media: Instagram: @elisekielyrealestateFacebook: Elise Kiely Real Estate LinkedIn: Elise Kiely Have Questions or Topic Suggestions, e-mail Elise at  Elise@EliseKiely.com Subscribe, share with a friend, and join Elise every other week to discover what makes Maine not just beautiful—but beautifully lived. Please remember this podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not create an attorney client or real estate advisor client relationship.  Please reach out to me directly if I can assist you in your real estate journey.

    32 min

  5. MAR 17

    Moving to Maine Later in Life: Finding Community, Lifestyle, and Real Estate in Scarborough

    Send us Fan Mail Moving to Maine Later in Life: Finding Community, Lifestyle, and Real Estate in Scarborough Episode Summary What does it look like to move to Maine later in life and intentionally choose a community that supports both connection and lifestyle? In this second half of Elise’s conversation with Karen Nelson, we explore how Karen and her partner Richard made the thoughtful decision to build their next chapter in Scarborough, Maine—a coastal community just minutes from Portland that offers a unique balance of nature, community, and convenience. After decades of professional and personal life in the Boston area, Karen and Richard weren’t simply looking for a house—they were looking for a Maine lifestyle. A place where they could stay intellectually engaged, physically active, and meaningfully connected to a new community. In this episode, Karen shares how Scarborough stood out as the ideal place to call home in Maine—offering access to the outdoors, opportunities for civic involvement, and proximity to Portland’s vibrant restaurants, arts, and cultural life. For anyone considering relocating to Maine, exploring Maine real estate, or finding the right Maine community later in life, this conversation offers both practical insight and inspiration. Elegant Maine Living explores Maine’s homes, communities, and people—through the lens of lifestyle, values, and thoughtful living. I host conversations with leaders, creators, and advisors who help illuminate what it truly means to live well in Maine. Connect with Elise 🌐 Website & Listings: EliseKiely.com 📸 Follow Elise on Social Media: Instagram: @elisekielyrealestateFacebook: Elise Kiely Real Estate LinkedIn: Elise Kiely Have Questions or Topic Suggestions, e-mail Elise at  Elise@EliseKiely.com Subscribe, share with a friend, and join Elise every other week to discover what makes Maine not just beautiful—but beautifully lived. Please remember this podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not create an attorney client or real estate advisor client relationship.  Please reach out to me directly if I can assist you in your real estate journey.

    24 min

  6. MAR 10

    Moving to Maine Later in Life: Love, Lifestyle, and Finding the Right Maine Community

    Send us Fan Mail What does it look like to begin a completely new chapter of life—and even find a new home—in Maine later in life? In this episode of Elegant Maine Living, host Elise Kiely sits down with Karen Nelson, a former healthcare executive who spent decades working in Boston’s leading academic medical systems, including Dana Farber and Mass General Brigham systems, before choosing to design a new lifestyle in Maine. After being widowed, Karen met her partner Richard during the COVID pandemic. Together they made the thoughtful decision to begin again—building a relationship, choosing a new home, and creating a shared lifestyle rooted in the values they care about most. But this conversation goes beyond career. It explores the deeply personal experience of reinvention, connection, and the courage to create a new life in Maine. For anyone curious about relocating to Maine, designing a lifestyle around community, or finding the right Maine home in a new stage of life, Karen’s story offers thoughtful insight and inspiration. What You'll Hear in This Episode • Karen’s career journey in healthcare leadership and regulatory administration • Why intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning shaped Karen’s professional path • Dating and building a relationship later in life • Meeting her partner Richard during the COVID pandemic • A memorable first date walking for hours along the Charles River in Boston • Why they chose to start fresh instead of moving into one another’s homes • How they began imagining a shared future and lifestyle beyond Boston • The early conversations that ultimately led them to consider homes and lifestyle opportunities in Maine A Conversation About Reinvention and the Maine Lifestyle Karen’s story reflects something many people quietly experience: reaching a moment when careers evolve, children grow, relationships change, and the question becomes—what does the next chapter look like? For Karen and Richard, that question led them to rethink not just where they would live, but what kind of lifestyle they wanted their home to support. This thoughtful conversation explores the idea that a home is more than a property—it’s a place that supports connection, curiosity, and the life you want to build. For anyone considering moving to Maine, buying a home in coastal Maine, or designing a lifestyle centered on community and nature, this conversation offers valuable per Elegant Maine Living explores Maine’s homes, communities, and people—through the lens of lifestyle, values, and thoughtful living. I host conversations with leaders, creators, and advisors who help illuminate what it truly means to live well in Maine. Connect with Elise 🌐 Website & Listings: EliseKiely.com 📸 Follow Elise on Social Media: Instagram: @elisekielyrealestateFacebook: Elise Kiely Real Estate LinkedIn: Elise Kiely Have Questions or Topic Suggestions, e-mail Elise at  Elise@EliseKiely.com Subscribe, share with a friend, and join Elise every other week to discover what makes Maine not just beautiful—but beautifully lived. Please remember this podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not create an attorney client or real estate advisor client relationship.  Please reach out to me directly if I can assist you in your real estate journey.

    21 min

  7. MAR 3

    Coastal Maine with Purpose: Inside the Special Surfers Movement with Nanci Boutet

    Send us Fan Mail In the second half of my conversation with Nanci Boutet, founder and executive director of Special Surfers, we explore how a simple act of generosity grew into one of Maine’s most meaningful community outreach programs. What began in 2003 as a request to take a few children with special needs surfing has become a nationally recognized adaptive surfing nonprofit serving thousands of children and adults of all abilities at Gooch’s Beach in Kennebunk, Maine . This episode is about inclusion, courage, volunteerism, and the transformative power of one wave. What Is Special Surfers? Special Surfers is a Maine-based nonprofit adaptive surfing program that welcomes individuals with autism, Down syndrome, physical disabilities, cognitive differences, and any special need — no diagnosis required. Participants register, arrive at the beach, and are paired with trained volunteer “wave captains” and surf assistants who guide them safely into the ocean. In peak events, Special Surfers has hosted: 260+ adaptive surfers in a single evening300+ volunteers30+ wheelchair users riding custom adaptive boardsOver 22 years, more than 10,000 participants and volunteers have been impacted . Learn more about Special Surfers here: 👉 https://specialsurfers.org Nanci’s work earned recognition as a “Point of Light” under President George H. W. Bush’s Thousand Points of Light initiative, after encouragement from Barbara Bush in Kennebunkport . While awards matter, Nanci makes clear: the real reward is watching someone discover confidence in a space where they are often underestimated. Learn more about Aquaholics here: 👉 https://aquaholicsurf.com Sometimes the most elegant thing we can do is help someone catch their first wave. 🌊 Elegant Maine Living explores Maine’s homes, communities, and people—through the lens of lifestyle, values, and thoughtful living. I host conversations with leaders, creators, and advisors who help illuminate what it truly means to live well in Maine. Connect with Elise 🌐 Website & Listings: EliseKiely.com 📸 Follow Elise on Social Media: Instagram: @elisekielyrealestateFacebook: Elise Kiely Real Estate LinkedIn: Elise Kiely Have Questions or Topic Suggestions, e-mail Elise at  Elise@EliseKiely.com Subscribe, share with a friend, and join Elise every other week to discover what makes Maine not just beautiful—but beautifully lived. Please remember this podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not create an attorney client or real estate advisor client relationship.  Please reach out to me directly if I can assist you in your real estate journey.

    33 min

  8. FEB 24

    Maine Surfing Story: How Nanci Boutet Built Confidence, Community, and Courage in Cold Water Episode

    Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to go hard — in Maine, in cold water, and in life? In this first half of my conversation with Maine surfer and entrepreneur Nanci Boutet, we explore how one woman helped reshape surf culture along the Maine coast and created space for women in a traditionally male-dominated sport. Long before founding Special Surfers, Nanci was an adult beginner who fell in love with surfing in Southern Maine. In 2002, she opened Aquaholics Surf Shop, becoming one of the few women leading a surf business in the region. Her mission was simple but powerful: make surfing in Maine accessible — especially for women who were curious but intimidated. From that vision came Mom’s Morning, a free weekly Maine surf gathering designed to welcome women of all ages, body types, and athletic backgrounds into the ocean with confidence. In this episode, we discuss: How women are reshaping surfing culture in MaineWhat it takes to start surfing later in lifeThe mindset behind Nanci’s personal motto: Go HardWhy resilience is built in cold Maine waterThe difference between result-oriented and process-oriented learningHow Maine’s ocean becomes a classroom for confidence and leadershipYou’ll hear stories of: Women in their 60s and 70s catching their first waves in MaineHigh-performing athletes humbled by the oceanBeginners overcoming fear and discovering unexpected strengthHow surf instruction becomes leadership trainingAt its core, this is not just a Maine surfing story. It is a story about women, courage, entrepreneurship, and community along the Maine coast. Nanci’s approach is tough but transformational. She demands effort, presence, and commitment — not perfection. Her belief is simple: if you are willing to face cold water, uncertainty, and self-doubt, you can build confidence that extends far beyond the beach. If you are interested in: Maine lifestyle storiesWomen entrepreneurs in MaineSurfing in New EnglandPersonal growth through sportBuilding confidence at any ageThis episode will resonate. In Part II, we continue the story and explore how this “Go Hard” philosophy evolved into Special Surfers — a Maine nonprofit serving children with special needs and their families. Elegant Maine Living explores Maine’s homes, communities, and people—through the lens of lifestyle, values, and thoughtful living. I host conversations with leaders, creators, and advisors who help illuminate what it truly means to live well in Maine. Connect with Elise 🌐 Website & Listings: EliseKiely.com 📸 Follow Elise on Social Media: Instagram: @elisekielyrealestateFacebook: Elise Kiely Real Estate LinkedIn: Elise Kiely Have Questions or Topic Suggestions, e-mail Elise at  Elise@EliseKiely.com Subscribe, share with a friend, and join Elise every other week to discover what makes Maine not just beautiful—but beautifully lived. Please remember this podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not create an attorney client or real estate advisor client relationship.  Please reach out to me directly if I can assist you in your real estate journey.

    29 min
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About

Elegant Maine Living explores Maine’s luxury real estate market, distinctive properties, and the lifestyle that makes this state such a special place to call home. Hosted by Elise Kiely, a top-producing real estate advisor and lifestyle connector with Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty, the podcast features thoughtful conversations with local leaders, creatives, and visionaries who embody the spirit of elegant living in Maine. Whether you're buying, selling, or simply Maine-curious, each episode offers insight, inspiration, and a deeper connection to the people and places that define Maine.

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