It won’t be long before Boothbay residents can say “Welcome neighbor” to the town’s newest members of the community.

First lady Ann LePage purchased a 12-year-old Colonial in Boothbay last month. The real estate transaction closed July 30.

Ann LePage paid $215,000 for the property. According to town records, the home is valued at $355,000, and has three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a two-car garage and has access to the Damariscotta River.

According to published reports, the property was in foreclosure when Ann LePage purchased the home. LePage said the couple has been looking for years to purchase property near the ocean.

“We’ve been looking for that great deal and finally found it in Boothbay,” Ann LePage said August 19.

Ann LePage purchased the property after looking at two oceanfront properties in Washington County. Last summer, the couple nearly bid on a Calais property, but decided to continue looking.

“Maine has such a beautiful coast so we’re all really lucky to live here,” Ann LePage said. “We’re really excited about moving to Boothbay. We were close to putting a bid in last summer in Calais and now I’m glad we didn’t because we’ve found a great piece of property at a great price.”

The first lady said the couple plans on making Boothbay their permanent summer home after her husband finishes his tenure as governor. The LePages still need to do some painting and other maintenance on the home before moving in. The couple plans to spend weekends in Boothbay while Gov. Paul LePage is governor.

“It’s only 36 miles which was another plus in Boothbay’s favor,” Ann LePage said. “But Calais has Marden’s and Boothbay doesn’t. That’s the only drawback.”

The LePages sold their Waterville home in 2010, after the former Waterville mayor and Marden’s executive won the governorship. The LePages plan to spend winters in Florida after the governor leaves office.

Boothbay resident Dawn Gilbert said she is excited about the LePages’ decision to move to town. Gilbert, chair of the Boothbay Republican Town Committee, has known Ann LePage for the past four years.

“We’ve become friends and I think it’s great they want to live here,” Gilbert said.

Ann LePage will have a chance to meet her new neighbors during the town’s 250th Anniversary celebration later this month. The governor was scheduled to march in the parade on August 23, but had a scheduling conflict. Ann LePage will attend, and is excited about this weekend’s celebration because it will give her chance to meet some of her future neighbors.