September Review: 

 The Cape Cod real estate market continues its foray into uncharted waters.  September saw the highest single family median sales price ever recorded in Barnstable County at $550,000. Additionally inventory remains incredibly low with only 921 homes available cape-wide.  These two factors are putting incredible pressure on buyers by resulting in multiple offer scenarios and many homes being sold for over asking price, indicating the desperation for housing on Cape Cod.  While this market seems good for sellers in the short term, an unsustainable housing market on the Cape is not good for anyone, even sellers. Stay healthy and safe everyone!  Contact us today, we are always glad to discuss the market in further detail if you have questions. For more market data check out our blog category Real Estate Trends.

Recent Market Summary

	July	Aug	Sept
Closed Sales	582	509	559
Inventory	1,128	1,019	921
Median Sales Price	$499k	$545k	$550k
Avg Days on Market	106	99	97
Avg % of Original Price	95%	96%	97%

Though it’s practically treason to say so, fall -- and not summer -- is my favorite season on Cape Cod. With fair skin and a short attention span, lying on the beach all day has never been overly appealing to me. But give me a crisp autumn day wandering around in a thick sweater, sipping a hot beverage -- now you’ve got my attention!

Usually the Cape’s fall schedule is packed with Fests, road races, and craft fairs, but this is hardly a typical year. Still, there are plenty of ways to make the best of this quieter, cooler season!

Wellfleet’s famous OysterFest is moving online this year! As always, it’s the weekend following Columbus Day, and will feature a live stream of the Shuck Off for the 20th iteration of this great event. Support the community by ordering Wellfleet oysters to eat while you watch, bid on auction items, and buy some great local merch!

Forget pumpkin spice: the fall is cranberry season. There’s something very pleasing and orderly about watching them round up all of the cranberries for harvest (not to mention highly Instagrammable). Watch the process in action in Harwich off Exit 10 or in Yarmouth on Weir Road, go for a walking tour of a working bog, or just pick up some delicious, locally-grown goodies! 

Lower temperatures mean more time spent outside without immediately being covered in sweat. Nothing beats soaking up the warm sunshine, cool ocean breezes, and changing foliage on a Thoreau-esque stroll in nature! Try the Boardwalk Trail in Wellfleet or on the John Wing Trail in Brewster for a peaceful moment of solitude that feels miles away from civilization….but is still close enough to grab lunch when you’re done. 

Somehow, we’ve made it this far through 2020. The change of seasons is a perfect moment to pause and reflect on how far we’ve come…and then brace yourself for the upcoming holiday season. So enjoy being outside while the sunlight lasts, and as always, wear your mask, wash your hands, and keep your distance! 

August Review: 

  We are in an unprecedented market on Cape Cod folks.  Sellers are heavily favored in the current clime as we are seeing multiple offers over asking price on many properties, a norm previously only seen in super-hot markets like Boston, San Francisco and other booming urban areas.  Inventory is down 51% from August last year and the lack of inventory is driving up median sales price (up 27% from last year).  Despite the lack of inventory, both pending sales and closed sales are up significantly as well, 71% and 31% respectively, indicating an incredible demand for single family homes on Cape Cod.  What do we expect for the fall? Who knows? We are in uncharted waters here. What we do know is that, if you are thinking of selling, now is an excellent time.  If you are thinking of buying, while the market may seem outrageous there are still good values out there so don't get discouraged. Stay healthy and safe everyone!  Contact us today, we are always glad to discuss the market in further detail if you have questions. For more market data check out our blog category Real Estate Trends.

Recent Market Summary

	June	July	Aug
Closed Sales	419	582	509
Inventory	1,296	1,128	1,019
Median Sales Price	$475k	$499k	$545k
Avg Days on Market	108	106	99
Avg % of Original Price	95%	95%	96%

July Review: 

July, like June, saw a significant uptick in real estate activity on Cape Cod. Presumably buyers are seeing the benefits of the Cape lifestyle and, through demand, creating an exceptionally hot market. Closed sales and pending sales are both up significantly from this time last year leading to the dearth of inventory that is still driving the market (as well as driving increasing prices). This is a heavily favored seller's market with only 3.1 months of inventory available across the county (less in certain markets) and properties seeing multiple offers and going under contract quickly. This trend follows the larger national trend of more interest in suburban, exurban and rural areas than cities. If you are looking for a getaway from the craziness in your area, we do still have a few weeks available in late August and September at our seasonal vacation rentals. Stay healthy and safe everyone!

Contact us today, we are always glad to discuss the market in further detail if you have questions. For more market data check out our blog category Real Estate Trends.

Recent Market Summary

	May	June	July
Closed Sales	239	419	582
Inventory	1,479	1,296	1,128
Median Sales Price	$455K	$475k	$499k
Avg Days on Market	102	108	106
Avg % of Original Price	95%	95%	95%

The (Sun)Burn Book: Beaches Edition

Some people are die-hards for their favorite baseball or football team; others are ready to throw hands over deep dish vs. thin crust pizza. Here on the Cape, we display loyalty (and a fair amount of smugness) through our choice of beach. 

Where to spend your time enjoying the wind, sand, and surf is a deeply personal choice. Are you a bayside person, as variable as high and low tide? Bold and rugged, like the National Seashore? Or perhaps you’re a sound-side person, steady and occasionally covered in seaweed. Staring at the waves and thinking one’s thoughts is a time-honored Cape tradition, so you’ll have plenty of time to mull it over. Whatever your dream beach is like, I’ve got options for you:

Beach must-have: Parking! 

A quick way to ruin your chill vacation vibe is getting to the beach and discovering that there’s no parking. If you’re like me, you lie awake all night and stress about this eventuality. Fun AND relaxing! 
Of course, the National Seashore lots are all large, but if you’re staying in the Mid- to Lower-Cape and want something close by, Red River Beach in Harwich and West Dennis Beach in (you guessed it) Dennis both have ample lots. Bonus: they run parallel to the beach so you can minimize the distance you have to drag one thousand pounds of beach chairs, small children, and assorted plastic toys across the sand. 

Beach must-have: Tidal flats!

Sure, high tide is neat. The dramatic crash of the surf, wondering if the water is going to surge under your chair, getting really wet when the next wave does exactly that, it’s a hoot. But the cool kids know that low tide, especially on the bayside, is the bee’s knees. Brewster boasts some of the most impressive tidal flats in all of North America, stretching over a mile into Cape Cod Bay. Forget fighting over a tiny little strip of sand at high tide -- spread out on the flats, look for unique rocks, and stare off into the middle distance like your lover has forsaken you to sail the endless seas. Corporation Beach in Dennis and Skaket Beach in Orleans are both great places to do all three, but Crosby Beach in Brewster is really where you’ll get the full experience. 

Beach must-haves: Absolutely no chance of sharks

The ocean is where sharks live, and they’ve been around for millenia, so we have to respect that. If you swim with exuberance, or you dislike ending the day crusted in sunscreen and sea salt, maybe you’re a pond person! Luckily for you, the Cape is essentially a big piece of Swiss cheese so ponds are myriad. Splash to your heart’s content in Harwich at Long Pond or Hinkley’s Pond. In Brewster enjoy Sheep Pond and in Eastham, Herring Pond. Remember to reapply sunscreen often and watch for pruney fingers!

At the end of the day, it isn’t about which beach is best for you: it’s about being vaguely condescending about other people’s beach preferences. Just kidding! It’s about enjoying whichever one you chose - so keep your distance, wash your hands, and leave the place nicer than you found it!

For more information on buying or selling on Cape Cod contact Amand Bebrin --HERE--

June Review:

June led to some interesting market outcomes. Obviously much of the real estate market, and society, continues to be influenced by the reality of COVID-19. This has, however, impacted the Cape Cod market in an unusual way. According to the NAR Market Recovery Survey, 60% of urban markets are paused or slowly entering recovery. This is not what we are experiencing here on the Cape. June saw a 76% increase from 2019 in pending sales (sales that have signed contracts but are not yet completed). This is, frankly, incredible. Obviously after nearly 3 months in phase 1 of reopening, and historically low interest rates, the pent-up demand from buyers came to a head in June. Cape Cod continues to provide a lifestyle many people find appealing and June demonstrated this like we have never seen before. While buyer demand is way up, we continue to experience a dearth of available housing, indicated by inventory down nearly 40% from this time last year. July sales are usually a bit slower as people settle into the summer season but, frankly, we don't see it happening this year folks.  However, if you are looking for a getaway from the craziness in your area, we do still have a few weeks available in August at our seasonal vacation rentals. Stay healthy and safe everyone!

Contact us today, we are always glad to discuss the market in further detail if you have questions. For more market data check out our blog category Real Estate Trends.

Recent Market Summary

	Apr	May	June
Closed Sales	264	239	419
Inventory	1,455	1,479	1,296
Median Sales Price	$440K	$455K	$475k
Avg Days on Market	116	102	108
Avg % of Original Price	95%	95%	95%

July, at last! Summer’s here and everyone has an opinion on how you should spend your time here on the Cape. So little time, so many things to choose from! Whatever you do, don’t miss out on these classics….

Water, water everywhere: If wheels and walks aren’t your jam, watercraft is also about as Cape Cod as it gets. While Cape Cod Bay, Nantucket Sound, and the National Seashore are the obvious bodies of water, the Cape also boasts a ton of freshwater ponds and the Bass River. Take in the scenery from a new angle in a kayak or pedal boat, or subtly show off your killer core strength and impressive balance on a stand-up paddleboard. Either way, being out on the water is its own form of relaxation and meditation, with the added perk of seeing all the native flora and fauna. Am I the only one who yells, “bird” every time I see a bird? I think not. The Pump House in Orleans, Cape Cod Waterways in Dennis, and Down Cape in Harwich provide a variety of rental craft and locales to explore! 

The big screen (literally): One of my favorite memories of vacationing on the Cape was going to the drive-in. It didn’t matter if I’d seen the movie before -- there’s something so novel about watching it outside, wrapped up in a cozy blanket, occasionally heckling the out-of-state SUV in front of you for opening their tailgate halfway through the film. From choosing the perfect spot to park, to setting up the beach chairs and forgetting just how long Jaws really is, the drive-in is a must-do when you’re here on the Cape. This year especially, it’s a perfect way to enjoy the Cape while keeping a safe distance!
The Wellfleet Drive-In has been around since the 50’s and is a Cape Cod landmark in its own right! It has nightly showings during the summer, changing weekly. If you’re in the Mid-Cape region, both Yarmouth and Hyannis have screenings as well: Yarmouth’s calendar starts July 12th, and Hyannis is operating on Fridays into August. 

I could keep going about all the ‘quintessential’ Cape things to do -- mini-golfing, bridge traffic, waiting two hours for a table on a Saturday night. But truly, the heart of Cape Cod is all the people who choose to come here to make memories, be it for a week, the season, or their whole lives. So however you decide to fill your time here this summer, remember to wash your hands, wear your mask in public, and give people space wherever you can. This is a special place to spend any amount of time, so thank you for helping us keep our wonderful community healthy and thriving!

Check in next week, when I break down which beaches are the best for soaking up all this gorgeous sunshine.

Ahh, summer on Cape Cod. The thing we dream of all year long: breeze-kissed beaches, lobster rolls eaten on wooden picnic tables, and sitting in traffic on 6A behind someone who absolutely does not know how to take a left turn. 
And while “quintessential” is one of those words that I could easily go without ever hearing again, along with “unprecedented” and “the Big Lebowski,” there are a few activities that qualify as being quintessential Cape Cod things to do and live up to the hype (beaches and dining out are deserving of their own dedicated posts, so we’ll save those for another time).

Bike Rides: Have you ever really vacationed on the Cape if you haven’t spent at least one sweltering August afternoon, biking uphill both ways (somehow) on the Cape Cod Rail Trail? Bonus points if you have, or were, a patently miserable child riding one of those half-bike attachments (official name: Alleycat)! The bike path is a great socially-distant activity that really makes you appreciate nature, time spent with your loved ones, and how awful humidity is. 
Orleans and Eastham have bike rentals convenient to the bike path, or bring your own and park at any of the free CCRT lots. Be sure to call or check the websites for Covid-related policies currently in place. 
** A couple points of etiquette: as a cyclist, when you’re passing people on the trail, it is customary to give them a heads-up by saying, "on your left". When crossing the road, be sure to dismount, make sure traffic can see you and stops for you, and then walk across to the other side. As a pedestrian, you have the right of way, but if you cycle your bike across the road, you’re a cyclist and the oncoming cars get to decide whether to let you pass or not. **

Stroll & Snack: Maybe you’re like me, and years of summer cycle treks have left you scarred for life. Or maybe you prefer to avoid the parking lots that are routes 6, 6A, and 28. Either way, you’re happy to walk the trails, and if there’s a conveniently-located spot to get something to eat, what a delightful coincidence! Heading from Brewster to Eastham, Stone L’Oven, Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters, the Hot Chocolate Sparrow, and Arnold’s Lobster & Clam Bar are all bike-path adjacent places to pause your leisurely stroll and grab a delicious treat. Plus, it’s a long-standing Cape rule that any calories consumed during a walk or bike ride just don’t count. It is known. 

Stay tuned for part 2!
 

This year has already been ten years long, and we’ve still got six months to go. After an interminable spring spent in isolation, warmer weather has us all dreaming of getting away from it all. Preferably while lying on a beach, and drinking something cold and bubbly.

Since Cape Cod is a prime destination within driving distance for several major metropolises, you can bet that we’ll still be having a summer season -- it’s just going to look a little different than years past. 

What should you expect? The same standards we’ve been practicing for months: if you’re unwell, stay home. If you’re out and about, wear a mask and keep your distance. Bring as much of what you need with you, and be patient with local restaurant workers, town employees and beach attendants, and other tourists as we all navigate this new system (and wash your hands!).

Fortunately for you, I am an introvert at heart and have built a whole social life around having minimal interaction with other people. So my suggestions for a fun and socially-distanced summer are as follows….

Depending on the town, beaches stop charging admission after 5pm (but close at dark), so make the most of the longer days and arrive later. Parking lots tend to be emptier later in the day, and you run less of a risk of getting completely sunburned your first day here! Red River Beach in Harwich and West Dennis Beach in Dennis both have ample parking lots and room to spread out.
Restaurants are allowed to offer patio service now and many are also still doing takeout. Pick somewhere you’ve never tried before, and a beach you’ve always wanted to go to, and enjoy sunset dinner with amazing water views (don’t forget the bug spray!). If you haven’t already, Encore in Dennis has truly incomparable bread pudding; at Rock Harbor in Orleans, try the prosciutto pizza; and for lobster rolls, there’s nowhere better than Sesuit Harbor Cafe (also in Dennis!). 
There will be drive-in movies in both Hyannis and Wellfleet this year! All the fun of going to the movies, with none of the annoyance of someone kicking your seat for the entirety of the show.
Holiday Hill in Dennis Port is the best mini-golf on the Cape, and yes, I am willing to fight about it. Wait until the heat breaks in the evening and see how long before a lighthearted, fun activity turns into a challenge of your competence as a human being. Let’s not forget that having a golf club to swing will encourage people to keep their distance!

Covid-19 has made this an exceptionally challenging year, and we’re not out of the woods yet. For all that people are excited to escape to the Cape, the cancellation of popular parades, fireworks, craft shows, and various Fests is a disappointment. But rest assured, it will still be a great summer. All the things that make Cape Cod wonderful are unchanged: the tantalizing array of food and beverages, the diverse natural splendor of our beaches and trails, and most importantly, the feeling of pushing ‘pause’ on reality to spend time with the people you love. So come, enjoy, stay healthy, relax and recharge.

May Review:

  The May market felt continued pressure from COVID-19 resulting in uncharacteristically low new listings, closings and inventory. With so much pressure on the supply side, median sales price increased 6.4% from this time last year. Fortunately, Governor Baker's transition into phase 2 of reopening on June 8th has made both sellers and buyers more comfortable with the transaction process so we expect to see activity pick back up in the market (in fact we have already seen activity start to increase). While June 2020 likely won't be as busy as June 2019, we expect to see positive trends towards a more normal market continue. Additionally, short-term seasonal vacation rentals are now open with some restrictions as well as increased cleaning requirements and, with restaurants starting to open with limited capacity/outdoor seating, the Cape is on its way to a subdued but wonderful summer. Stay healthy and safe everyone!

Contact us today, we are always glad to discuss the market in further detail if you have questions. For more market data check out our blog category Real Estate Trends.

Recent Market Summary

	Mar	Apr	May
Closed Sales	326	264	239
Inventory	1,471	1,455	1,479
Median Sales Price	$441K	$440K	$455K
Avg Days on Market	124	116	102
Avg % of Original Price	94%	95%	95%