Mount Desert Island is one of Maine’s most distinctive coastal destinations, where mountains meet rocky shoreline, forests, coves, and open water. Closely associated with Acadia National Park, the island offers a remarkable setting for those drawn to Maine’s natural beauty and the character of its coastal communities.
From the lively streets of Bar Harbor to the harbor villages of Northeast Harbor and Southwest Harbor, and from the working waterfronts of Tremont to Somesville at the head of Somes Sound, each community has its own personality and pace.
Together, these communities offer a range of ways to live in this extraordinary corner of Maine, from year-round residences to seasonal homes along the coast. Explore the communities below and discover homes currently available throughout Mount Desert Island.
Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor is the largest community on Mount Desert Island, with a lively downtown centered around shops, galleries, restaurants, cafés, and other local businesses. The town sits along Frenchman Bay, with Acadia National Park extending into the community and providing access to trails, carriage roads, rocky shoreline, and mountain scenery. Bar Harbor is also a year-round community, with local businesses and services supporting residents throughout the seasons.
Its combination of a walkable downtown, access to Acadia, and proximity to the coast gives Bar Harbor a character that is distinct from the island's smaller villages.
To learn more about the community, its amenities, and real estate, explore our Bar Harbor Community Guide.
Explore properties currently available in Bar Harbor below.
26 Hummingbird Lane, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Represented by Kristi Jacoby | Offered at $1,100,050
At the top of Mount Desert Island, just five miles from the entrance to Acadia National Park and the village of Bar Harbor, sits this recently renovated year-round cottage on 1.45 acres. With 150 ft of frontage on Hadley Point Beach accessed via an aluminum ramp instead of stairs, getting to the sandy shore and portaging paddleboards, kayaks, and picnics is super easy. Bird and marine life abound (seals!). Sunsets are spectacular as are walks on the beach in any season.
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15 Deer Run, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Represented by Nicole Richardson | Offered at $699,000
Tucked into a quiet wooded setting on a private 1.01 acre lot, 15 Deer Run offers a well-maintained 3-bedroom, 2-bath home just minutes from Acadia National Park and downtown Bar Harbor. Ideally located on Mount Desert Island, the property provides easy access to hiking trails, carriage roads, and the surrounding coastal landscape, while remaining centrally positioned to Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor, and a short drive to Ellsworth for shopping, dining, and everyday services.
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48 Frenchmans Hill Road, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Represented by Abigail Curless | Offered at $675,000
Originally constructed in 1982, this delightful two- bedroom, two-bath home is a unique retreat. The four-acre parcel offers a wonderful combination of wooded areas and a large, sunny, level yard with plenty of room to enjoy the outdoors. Centrally located on Mount Desert Island in Bar Harbor's village of Town Hill, the property offers convenient access to all that Mount Desert Island has to offer.
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Northeast Harbor
Northeast Harbor sits on the eastern side of Mount Desert Island, surrounding a protected harbor with views across the water and toward the surrounding mountains. The village has a long-established coastal character, with shops, galleries, restaurants, and local businesses gathered near the waterfront. It is also home to our Northeast Harbor office, where we have a longstanding presence in the community.
Two of the area’s notable gardens, Asticou Azalea Garden and Thuya Garden, are nearby, while Acadia National Park provides miles of trails, carriage roads, and scenic places to explore throughout the surrounding landscape. Together, the village, waterfront, gardens, and proximity to Acadia make Northeast Harbor a distinctive place to call home and enjoy in every season.
For those considering a home in Northeast Harbor, the combination of a well-established village, protected waterfront, gardens, and proximity to Acadia offers a particularly appealing place to spend time in every season.
Learn more in our Northeast Harbor Community Guide.
45 Harborside Rd Northeast Harbor, Mount Desert, ME 04662
Represented by Linda Jonas & Abigail Curless | Offered at $6,350,000
Circa 1890, this distinguished Shingle Style summer cottage, designed by renowned Gilded Age architect Fred L. Savage, Sweetbriar is one of the original Harborside Cottages that define the architectural heritage of Northeast Harbor. Beautifully preserved, the residence retains its original craftsmanship and timeless elegance while offering spectacular harbor views and exceptional waterfront amenities.
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30 Neighborhood Road, Northeast Harbor, Mount Desert, ME 04662
Represented by Linda Jonas & Carrol Fernald | Offered at $5,500,000
Set in the heart of the Village of Northeast Harbor, Cove End is a distinguished waterfront estate that embodies the grace and tradition of Maine's storied summer colonies. Designed in 1931 by the renowned architectural firm of Little & Russell for Barton Eddison and cherished for five decades as the home of Brooke Astor, the property represents a rare opportunity to steward an important piece of Northeast Harbor history.
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Somesville
At the head of Somes Sound, Somesville is one of Mount Desert Island’s historic villages, centered around the millpond and the waterway that extends south through the island. Its history is still visible in the village today, with historic buildings, the Somesville Bridge, and the 1780 Selectmen’s Building reflecting its early settlement.
The Somesville Historic District includes the village and surrounding historic properties, with the Somesville Museum & Gardens adding another connection to the area's past. The village’s location also places it within easy reach of other Mount Desert Island communities and Acadia National Park.
Somesville offers a quieter residential setting with a strong sense of history and a close relationship to Somes Sound.
Explore currently available properties in Somesville and the surrounding area below.
562 Sound Drive, Mount Desert, ME 04660
Represented by Marty Dischinger & Laura Pellerano | Offered at $2,950,000
Situated overlooking Somes Sound, this unique, Bob Patterson-designed cottage offers stunning views of the Acadia National Park mountain peaks, located on a protected cove with a private dock. The property features 1,262 feet of waterfront frontage across 7.44 acres. The main cottage provides convenient one-floor living with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a fireplace, and cathedral ceilings. Additionally, the lower level includes office space with views of the Sound.
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37 Whitney Farm Road, Mount Desert, ME 04660
Represented by Abigail Curless | Offered at $1,275,000
Remarkable custom home in the heart of Somesville Village, thoughtfully designed and masterfully built using the finest materials. Nestled into a peaceful woodland setting, the home blends beautifully with its surroundings, offering exceptional privacy and tranquility. Natural light fills each room, highlighting the architectural details and abundance of thoughtfully designed built-ins. Every inch of the home has been carefully considered to create beautiful, functional living spaces. Perfectly situated between Somes Pond and Long Pond, this exceptional home offers a rare combination of craftsmanship, privacy, thoughtful design, and a central Mount Desert Island location. Somesville residents, with approved membership, enjoy dock and mooring privileges at the Somesville Landing, providing convenient access to the pristine waters of Somes Sound.
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Seal Harbor
Seal Harbor has a character that feels distinctly its own on Mount Desert Island. The village centers around its sandy beach and village green, with a small collection of homes and buildings set close to the shore. The beach has long been an important part of life here, offering a place to swim, walk, and enjoy views across the water.
Beyond the beach, Seal Harbor is surrounded by the natural beauty of Mount Desert Island, with Acadia National Park extending into the area around the village. Its smaller scale and coastal setting give Seal Harbor a more intimate feel than the island’s larger communities, while its location provides easy access to the wider island.
For homeowners, Seal Harbor offers the opportunity to be part of a small coastal community where the beach is quite literally at the heart of the village.
Learn more in our Seal Harbor Community Guide.
Explore currently available properties in Seal Harbor below.
93 Cooksey Drive, Mount Desert, ME 04660
Represented by Bill Gaynor | Offered at $12,750,000
Just imagine spending Summers in the magical village of Seal Harbor on Mount Desert Island. The current residents named this extraordinary place Wanakiwin. Which means '' harmony, peace and tranquility.'' This enchanting estate by the sea transports you with its secluded driveway that winds through a pristine woodland of mosses and lichen-covered boulders as the majestic residence comes into view. Take in the sweeping panoramic views of 780' glittering ocean frontage that merges with the rugged pink granite bluff known as Ingraham Point. All while perched high and dry above the bold Atlantic. Welcome multiple generations to partake in all of the captivating ocean view bedrooms.
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6 Cliffhanger Lane, Seal Harbor, Mount Desert, ME 04675
Represented by Linda Jonas | Offered at $6,499,500
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Southwest Harbor
On the western side of Mount Desert Island, Southwest Harbor has a character all its own. Boats fill the harbor in summer, working waterfronts remain an important part of the town, and the village center brings together shops, galleries, restaurants, and everyday services. The harbor remains central to community life and continues to support a working waterfront.
Southwest Harbor is also close to the quieter side of Acadia National Park, with trails, rocky shorelines, and scenic roads nearby. For residents, it offers the pleasures of a traditional Maine harbor town alongside easy access to the natural beauty of Mount Desert Island.
Learn more in our Southwest Harbor Community Guide.
Explore currently available properties in Southwest Harbor below.
42 High Road, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679
Represented by Carroll Fernald & Susan Allen | Offered at $1,025,000
A private haven in a prime Southwest Harbor location. This adorable three bedroom home was built in 1920, and has three bedrooms and one and a half baths, perfect for a fresh start or a summer retreat. The property itself is centrally located between Southwest Harbor's beautiful stone causeway, Beal's Lobster Pier and downtown Southwest; a quiet neighborhood with easy access to many activities. This property is a rare gem and a wonderful opportunity for anyone looking for a Southwest Harbor classic.
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Tremont
Life in Tremont is closely tied to the water. In Bass Harbor and Bernard, working waterfronts remain an important part of the community, with fishing boats, docks, and small harbors defining much of the local character. Away from the shore, wooded roads, fields, coves, and scattered homes give the area a distinctly rural feel.
Acadia National Park also extends into Tremont, bringing trails and stretches of rugged coastline within the community. Bass Harbor Head Light, located at the entrance to Bass Harbor, is one of the area's best-known landmarks.
Tremont offers a different way to live on Mount Desert Island, with a strong year-round community, working waterfront, and more rural surroundings than the island’s better-known village centers.
Learn more in our Tremont Community Guide.
Explore currently available properties in Tremont below.
25b Richardson Road B, Tremont, ME 04653
Represented by Carroll Fernald and Susan Allen | Offered at $975,000
The views of Bass Harbor from this beautiful and private townhome in Madomic Ridge are stunning. This lovely home was completely renovated in 2018 and is a turn-key 'lock and leave' home! Three bedrooms and three full bathrooms, great room with dining area, living room with gas wood stove, two additional flex rooms that can be office, storage or additional living spaces. There is a front porch and screened-in porch with a dining area and great water views from both. You will also have access to the large dock across the road at the Underwood Wharf. This townhome is the last one in the complex and very private. Comes beautifully furnished, with a few exclusions, and ready to move into!
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