It’s quite clear who should buy Maine’s ‘Wedding Cake House’

If you’ve ever taken a leisurely drive inland from Kennebunkport, you’ve probably spotted it: the “Wedding Cake House.” Just steps from Route 1, Kennebunk’s bright yellow masterpiece gets its name from the elaborate white border that laces its edges, much like a tiered cake.

Considered one of the most photographed homes in Maine, the house is nothing short of an icon. Now this icon is on the market for a whopping $2,650,000. According to Portland Press Herald, its current owners had attempted to transform the house into a hostel and event space. The Kennebunk Planning Board rejected their proposal to use it as a commercial property in a residential zone, and soon after, the owners put up a “for sale” sign on the 2.23-acre property.

It’s a shame that the hostel idea was rejected – I would have loved to stay there – but it’s quite clear who will have to buy the Wedding Cake House next. Without a doubt, a group of people should pool their funds to purchase this 1825 landmark, creating the communal living space of New Englanders’ wildest dreams. Cohabitation is no longer a new idea; The new co-living development in Malden, with 30 households living under one roof, is proof that it has officially taken off here. But instead of living in a new building, eight to 10 people could revel in the quirks – and share the upkeep – of the Wedding Cake House.

There are a total of six bedrooms in the main house, plus two more in the huge apartment above the property’s carriage house, for a total of 6,263 square feet of living space. A kitchen that the listing agent calls “a caterer’s dream,” plus a spacious formal dining room, library and a total of five full and four half bathrooms, only add to its practicality as a home for many people. There’s also plenty of wall space to fill. With numerous paintings adorning the walls, one could even describe the inhabitants as coven of modern day Isabella Stewart Gardnerspreserving Maine’s historic structure with a community touch.

As for the mortgage, let’s say eight people find a way to make a 20 percent down payment, or $530,000. That leaves a monthly payment of about $16,000, or $2,000 per person. That’s well below the median price of a one-bedroom apartment in Boston, which now hovers around $3,000. And what’s included goes well beyond the average apartment: frontage on the Kennebunk River (kayak!), a huge shed with majestic woodwork (a coworking space!), a gigantic courtyard with a fire pit (the summer nights!), and more. .

A close-knit group of friends with a little extra cash have the opportunity to combat New England’s housing crisis in a fun, if quirky, way. I really hope they make an offer and bring their art with them.

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