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

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What happens when two middle school girls leave behind their friends, sports teams, school routines, and familiar lives in Maine to spend nearly a year living in Africa and Europe?

In this second half of Elise Kiely’s conversation with the Cook Mueller family, Jasmine and Sydney Mueller share their family sabbatical experience from their perspective.

When their parents first announced the plan to leave Maine for nearly a year, neither daughter was enthusiastic. In fact, both wondered what they would miss—from friends and school traditions to sports, activities, and everyday routines. But over time, what began as uncertainty evolved into an experience that neither would trade.

Jasmine and Sydney discuss:

• Their initial reactions to learning about the family sabbatical
• Leaving friends, school, sports, and familiar routines behind
• Attending an international school in Tanzania
• Making friends from around the world
• Learning and living in a new culture
• Family adventures throughout Tanzania, Cape Town, Switzerland, and Europe
• Homeschooling while traveling
• The challenges and rewards of spending so much time together as a family
• What surprised them most about living abroad
• Returning home to Maine after a life-changing year

This episode offers a rare glimpse into a family sabbatical through the eyes of children and explores how travel, cultural immersion, international education, and shared experiences can shape confidence, perspective, resilience, and lifelong memories.

Whether you're considering a family sabbatical, worldschooling, homeschooling while traveling, living abroad with children, or simply looking for inspiration to step outside your family's comfort zone, this conversation is filled with practical insights and heartfelt reflections.

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: @elisekielyrealestate
• Facebook: Elise Kiely Real Estate 
• LinkedIn: Elise Kiely 

Have Questions or Topic Suggestions, e-mail Elise at 

• [email protected]
  
  

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.

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What would it look like to step away from everyday life for nearly a year and experience the world together as a family?

In this first half of Elise Kiely’s conversation with Shana Cook Mueller, Shana shares how she and her husband, Fortunat Mueller of ReVision Energy, made the bold decision to pause work, leave Maine, and take their two daughters on a year-long family sabbatical through Tanzania, Cape Town, Switzerland, and beyond.

Together, Elise and Shana discuss:

•  The decision-making process behind a family sabbatical 
•  Raising children with global perspective and cultural awareness 
•  Leaving behind routines, school schedules, and professional obligations 
•  Building community while living abroad 
•  Parenting through uncertainty and adventure 
•  Life in Tanzania and the experience of international schools 
•  Homeschooling while traveling through Europe 
•  The impact of slowing down and living more intentionally as a family 

This episode is a thoughtful conversation about family, purpose, courage, and creating a life aligned with your values.

And in Part 2, Jasmine and Sydney Mueller join Elise to share the experience from their perspective — from leaving friends behind and starting new schools to unforgettable adventures, family dynamics, and what it felt like to finally come home to Maine.

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: @elisekielyrealestate
• Facebook: Elise Kiely Real Estate 
• LinkedIn: Elise Kiely 

Have Questions or Topic Suggestions, e-mail Elise at 

• [email protected]
  
  

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.

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In the second half of my conversation with Molly Platz, we move from the decision to return to Maine… to what it actually looks like to build a new life here as an adult.

After years living in Austin, Texas, Molly and her partner Nick made the intentional decision to return to Maine and create a life that balanced community, independence, family, and lifestyle. Together, we discuss how they chose the Willard Beach neighborhood in South Portland, what they were looking for in a community, and why they intentionally wanted to build something that felt like their own—not simply recreate Molly’s childhood experience in Maine. 

We also talk about:

•  Purchasing a home remotely without ever seeing it in person 
•  The emotional reality of relocating while preparing to welcome their first child 
•  Building community intentionally as new parents while both working remotely 
•  The importance of walkability, neighborhood connection, and access to nature in the greater Portland lifestyle 
•  How Maine’s culture of friendliness and community surprised both Molly and Nick 
•  Balancing closeness to family with independence as adults 
•  What younger generations may prioritize differently about work-life balance, community, and lifestyle 

Molly also shares thoughtful reflections on Maine identity, community involvement, and how she and Nick are intentionally designing a life that reflects who they are now—not simply who they were when they left Maine years ago. 

And of course, we end with some favorite Maine places, including walks around South Portland, Willard Beach, Scratch Bakery, and what makes Maine such a special place to call home.

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: @elisekielyrealestate
• Facebook: Elise Kiely Real Estate 
• LinkedIn: Elise Kiely 

Have Questions or Topic Suggestions, e-mail Elise at 

• [email protected]
  
  

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.

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Molly Platz’s story is one that will resonate with so many young adults who grow up in Maine, leave to explore the world, build careers and relationships elsewhere—and then eventually begin asking themselves an important question: What would it look like to come back to Maine and build a life here as an adult, on my own terms?

In this first half of my conversation with Molly, we talk about the experience of leaving Maine to discover who you are outside the expectations and familiarity of home. Molly shares how moving away gave her the freedom to grow independently, create new communities, and better understand the kind of life she ultimately wanted to build.

After years living in Austin, Texas, Molly and her partner Nick began thoughtfully considering a return to Maine—not out of nostalgia, but out of a desire for a different kind of lifestyle, stronger connection to family, and a more intentional way of living as they thought about their future and starting a family of their own.

Together, we discuss:

•  Why leaving Maine can sometimes be an important part of ultimately returning 
•  Building identity and confidence away from home 
•  Creating community as a young adult in a new city 
•  The push and pull many people feel between opportunity, lifestyle, family, and belonging 
•  How relationships and priorities evolve in your late 20s and 30s 
•  The early conversations Molly and Nick had about moving back to Maine 

Molly grew up in Auburn, Maine, in a multigenerational Maine family with deep roots in design, community, and philanthropy. She attended Connecticut College, later studied design through Parsons School of Design, earned her master’s degree in social work from the University of Texas, and built a career blending communication, design, and social impact work before returning to Maine.

In the second half of our conversation, we discuss what happened next: choosing the Willard Beach neighborhood in South Portland, purchasing a home remotely without seeing it in person, building community while working from home, and what surprised her most about returning to Maine at this stage of life.

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: @elisekielyrealestate
• Facebook: Elise Kiely Real Estate 
• LinkedIn: Elise Kiely 

Have Questions or Topic Suggestions, e-mail Elise at 

• [email protected]
  
  

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.

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In the second half of her conversation with Dr. Mike Baumann, Chair of Emergency Medicine at Maine Medical Center, Elise Kiely dives into what it truly means to lead and practice emergency medicine in Maine.

Dr. Baumann shares how Life Flight of Maine operates in one of the most rural states in the country, what a typical day looks like for an ER physician, and how a recent health scare gave him new insight into patient care and personal balance.

This episode offers a powerful look at the human side of healthcare — from clinical coordination to compassion under pressure.

🎧 Highlights include:

•  How emergency teams prepare for rural trauma care 
•  What happens behind the scenes in an ER shift 
•  Reflections on vulnerability, leadership, and showing up fully in both work and life 

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: @elisekielyrealestate
• Facebook: Elise Kiely Real Estate 
• LinkedIn: Elise Kiely 

Have Questions or Topic Suggestions, e-mail Elise at 

• [email protected]
  
  

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.

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In this first half of a two-part conversation, Elise Kiely sits down with Dr. Mike Bauman, Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Maine Medical Center and Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine. With warmth, clarity, and candor, Dr. Bauman offers a behind-the-scenes look at the structure and role of Maine’s flagship teaching hospital — from the residency match process and medical student education to what it means to be a Level 1 trauma center.

You’ll learn about:

•  How Maine Med trains and attracts top medical talent 
•  What happens behind the scenes when you walk into the ER 
•  How seasonal surges and hospital capacity affect emergency care 
•  Why Monday is the busiest day in emergency medicine 
•  And how the hospital fits into the broader health landscape in Maine 

Whether you’re curious about emergency care in Maine, thinking about a career in medicine, or simply wondering what to expect when walking into the ER, this episode offers insight with compassion and clarity.

🎧 Be sure to catch Part Two, where Dr. Bauman shares what it’s like working with Life Flight of Maine, describes a day in the life of an ER physician, and reflects on how his own recent health scare changed his view of care, leadership, and what matters most.

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: @elisekielyrealestate
• Facebook: Elise Kiely Real Estate 
• LinkedIn: Elise Kiely 

Have Questions or Topic Suggestions, e-mail Elise at 

• [email protected]
  
  

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.

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In this April 2026 market update, Elise Kiely shares a clear and grounded perspective on what is happening in Maine real estate today—and how buyers and sellers can respond strategically.

The data points to a market that is stabilizing, not declining. While national headlines highlight uncertainty, Maine continues to move at its own pace, with moderate appreciation, limited inventory, and strong long-term fundamentals.

Elise discusses why waiting for a market “crash” is not a strategy, the growing influence of single women as a powerful buyer segment, and why preparation and condition are once again critical for sellers. She also outlines practical guidance for navigating today’s market—whether you are buying, selling, or planning ahead.

Key takeaways:

•  Maine’s market is stabilizing with moderate price growth 
•  A crash is unlikely; demand remains strong and building 
•  Preparation and pricing strategy are essential for sellers 
•  Buyers should act strategically and not wait for perfection 
•  Real estate remains a powerful tool for long-term wealth creation 

Related Episodes & Conversations

🎧 Market Update with Chris Lynch
https://www.elegantmaineliving.com

🎧 Amelia Dow – The Great Wealth Transfer & Its Impact on Real Estate
https://www.elegantmaineliving.com

🎧 Sandra Stone – Investing, Entrepreneurship & Maine Angels
https://www.elegantmaineliving.com

🎧 Elizabeth Carper – The Styled Home: Preparing Your Home for Market
https://www.elegantmaineliving.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: @elisekielyrealestate
• Facebook: Elise Kiely Real Estate 
• LinkedIn: Elise Kiely 

Have Questions or Topic Suggestions, e-mail Elise at 

• [email protected]
  
  

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.

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

 📧 [email protected]

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: @elisekielyrealestate
• Facebook: Elise Kiely Real Estate 
• LinkedIn: Elise Kiely 

Have Questions or Topic Suggestions, e-mail Elise at 

• [email protected]
  
  

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.

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: [email protected]

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: @elisekielyrealestate
• Facebook: Elise Kiely Real Estate 
• LinkedIn: Elise Kiely 

Have Questions or Topic Suggestions, e-mail Elise at 

• [email protected]
  
  

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.

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: @elisekielyrealestate
• Facebook: Elise Kiely Real Estate 
• LinkedIn: Elise Kiely 

Have Questions or Topic Suggestions, e-mail Elise at 

• [email protected]
  
  

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.