We have four excellent open houses this weekend and predictions of fair weather so don't miss out.  If you are interested in any of these homes or to learn more about any [...]

Welcome back to this installment of 'Ask Agnes'.  Here we'll talk about finding a home and review an offer to purchase real estate.

"Ok Agnes, I have spoken to a reputable local bank and am pre-qualified for a purchase price of $400,000 and have a few neighborhoods in mind.  I also know I want a 3 bedroom [...]

We have three excellent open houses this weekend and, with the first prediction of clear skies in some time, will be a great weekend to get out and preview your dream home!

New Price |  9 Osborn Snow Drive, East Dennis | Sunday 1-3

Location is everything and this home has it all - expansive views of Quivet Neck conservation land as far as [...]

After examining the process of selling on Cape Cod, it is now time for a buyer's perspective.  For more information on selling your home, start at Part 1 of the series here.

"OK Agnes, I am ready to buy a home on the Cape...uummmm...help?"

"That's wonderful news!  Owning a home is a dream many people want to realize and we take great pride [...]

We have 3 great open houses this weekend that you won't want to miss.

With 9 Osborn Snow Drive, East Dennis, location is everything and this home has it all - expansive views of Quivet Neck conservation land as far as Cape Cod Bay and lush grounds that have character and set the tone for the Cape Cod lifestyle. The gracious interiors cover 6600 square feet which include separate living quarters and a large private office that makes this home ideal for corporate retreats. Every inch was custom crafted with low maintenance in mind. Boasting a fabulous chef's kitchen and oversized deck, entertaining is a breeze. Delight your clients with delicious treats prepared in the brick oven while enjoying the sweeping views and wine on the deck or by the fire pits. This special place features 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, sparkling wood, tile, and lush carpeting, vaulted ceilings, and floor to ceiling windows. This is truly private and in an exceptional neighborhood. Bring your personal touches. $2,075,000.

Just new to the market 438 Main St, Osterville, is a unique refined residence a short stroll to Osterville Village for Fancy's Market, library, post office, coffee, and brunch or to Dowes Beach for a sunny walk or cooling dip. This renovated charmer has a versatile floor plan. The heart of the home features a family room kitchen combination that spills onto the large gracious sun room that was added in 2012 with deck and patio on either side. The living room with lovely bay window is set apart allowing for quiet contemplation and intimate chats. Each bedroom has a private bath. There is extra sleeping area with half bath for visitors. The home is air conditioned throughout and has a fantastic outdoor shower. This adaptable home is to be enjoyed in summer and all year long. $699,000

Also new to market and having the versatility of both residential and general commercial zoning, 485 Main St, West Dennis, was also known as the Rose Victorian Gift Shop for many years.  Built in 1877 this striking Folk Victorian home features five bedrooms, 3 baths, a large carriage house of consistent architecture, two storage 'barns,' plus a privy. It is sited along Main Street a walk to the Village Center. Charm and grace best describe the tree lined street setting and interior with its inlaid wood floors, high ceilings, plaster ceiling medallions and many other period features. The General Commercial zoning allows for a wide variety of uses. Bring your ideas and make this property sparkle once more! $399,000

    Our goal in this series is it to help you understand how we interpret markets on the Cape and how this informs our recommendations when developing pricing strategies.  For our final installment we will evaluate the Cape Cod market for the past 3 years (starting in October 2014).  

    First the inventory of single family homes has been dropping over the past few years.  This factor coupled with rising median sales prices and fewer days on market indicate an accelerating market in Barnstable County.  Another interesting factor to note is the significant decrease in homes for sale over the past year and that 2017 did not show as stark a seasonal bump in inventory as is typical.  Additionally the affordability index is trending towards less affordability on Cape Cod.  

    What's our take? If you are thinking of buying, our advice is not to wait.  Interest rates are at historic lows and, if the current market trend continues, homes will continue to become gradually more expensive.  The long-term news isn't all bad, though - there are numerous local, state, and federal initiatives in the works which plan to ease the affordability pinch here on the Cape.  For more information, check out this local housing forum featuring none other than our own Ned Chatelain.  But you don't have to wait for new programs to buy something - give us a call and we can put you in touch with the top-notch mortgage brokers we work with who can walk you through low-downpayment and no-downpayment mortgages, first time home-buyer programs, or local lending incentives that can make the difference between buying this year or buying in three years.

     On the other hand, If you are thinking of selling, this is good news for you.  The Spring is an excellent time to get your house on the market and winter is the best time to get it ready.  Give us a call today if you are interested in a home valuation and comparative market analysis.

    Our goal in this series it to help you understand how we interpret markets on the Cape and how this informs our recommendations when developing pricing strategies.  In this installment we will be evaluating a specific market - homes in Brewster between $300k and $500k.  We chose this market because it includes the current median sales price in Barnstable County of $380,000. 

    From August 1, 2017 until October 26th (when we ran the numbers) only 25 homes have sold in this price range in Brewster.  Remarkably, the median sales price is ...$380,000, and the average days on market is 66.  As a result we note that in the past three months houses in Brewster sell more quickly than the average in Barnstable County.  Furthermore Brewster shows signs favoring sellers.  We see this in the fact that homes sell relatively quickly and return a higher % of original list price than Barnstable County overall (please see Part 1 for this graph and explanation).  When looking at the last 3 weeks we also note that fewer price reductions are needed before homes are selling.  Other points of interest that we consider - though don't have time to discuss fully - include absorption rate, total listings and withdrawn listings.

    We look forward to introducing part 3 of this series when we compare markets with specific features (water!).  If you are curious about how your home will compete in your local market please contact us today or click here to get a home valuation.

  As the days get shorter and the prospect of fall becomes ever more apparent, outdoor landscaping improvements seem less daunting.  Cooler weather makes outdoor projects more enjoyable and undertaking even simple jobs can add significantly to the curb appeal of your home.  The National Association of Realtors published a report relating to [...]

We have three excellent open houses this weekend as well as numerous others throughout the Cape.  We are featuring the wonderful property on 9 Osborn Snow Drive, East Dennis.  From the fruit orchard, to the steam shower, the outdoor pizza oven and the sprawling deck, everything about this home exudes luxury.  Perfect for entertaining [...]

We have just introduced a new informational page on the website, 'Homeownership on Cape Cod'.  We will be adding more information to it in the future, but for now here is the third part of that page with some useful information regarding basements, sump pumps and dirt roads.  As [...]