Cape Cod Area

Improvise, Adapt, Overcome No, this isn’t an episode of Man vs. Wild (exactly), since we local Cape Codders have slightly more than a knife and some flint to help us survive. But, in many ways our current conditions are at odds with community needs: housing, wastewater, healthcare, and our economy are a few of the complex challenges that face our beloved sandbar. Since we don’t want to decimate our fragile environment, and we can’t create more land, the options remaining are

Cape Cod vacation rentals had another incredible year in 2021. After many months cooped up by the pandemic, we saw exceptional bookings and many happy returning tenants who did not rent in 2020. There were a few points that we found very interesting after letting our heads clear from the heat of the summer. 1. We are still missing our international vacationers Before 2020, international visitors, particularly Canadians, made up a small but significant number of our rental gu

Another annual newsletter, another moment of reckoning how much the pandemic has changed our lives. The only constant seems to be that rapid change and unpredictability will continue to waylay our plans….but it’s not all bad! Based on polling data from the Cape & Islands Association of Realtors, a majority of people who purchased a home on Cape during the pandemic intend to stay full-time. While an increased year-round population poses some of its own challenges, having a new

What a year it’s been since I sat down to write for our last annual newsletter! Then, I was just settling into my new position here at Chatelain Real Estate and was looking forward to a wonderful year. What’s that they say about ‘the best laid plans’? While the Cape has been experiencing a record-breaking real estate market, many people and businesses are living with the uncertainty of whether they’ll be able to support themselves through the coming year. One thing I love ab

All my life, I’ve been a cat person. I liked their begrudging acceptance of affection and our shared love of naps. And then 2020 happened. I avoided panic-adopting a puppy in March, but by June, I decided there was indeed room in my life for a fluffy companion. Mid-July, I got the call that the incredibly pathetic looking creature I’d been sent a picture of had arrived in Massachusetts and was ready to come home with me. It’s been six months, and I legitimately cannot remem

October Review: The Cape Cod real estate market continues its unprecedented year. Most remarkably is that median sales price remains at $550,000, up 25% from this time last year. What is driving this increase? Demand. Both closed sales and pending sales are up more than 40% from this time last year and inventory is incredibly low, at just under 2 months of inventory. Stay healthy and safe everyone! Contact us today, we are always glad to discuss the market in further

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 o

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

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

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

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.

After making it through the longest March ever, we’re now staring down an equally long April spent in lockdown. For a society that’s usually lamenting never having enough time to do the things we want, we’re now facing a month’s worth of hours to fill. Whether you’re still going to work, managing kiddos, working or taking classes from home, or just plain going stir crazy (or all of the above), everything can feel really overwhelming at the moment. In my experience, it does he

We get a lot of questions from folks interested in the issue of housing affordability here on the Cape, so we thought we’d give a quick overview of the issue and some of the potential solutions being discussed. What exactly is meant by “affordable”? The benchmark for housing affordability is 30% of a family’s income. Here on Cape, the Area Median income (AMI) from 2014-2018 (per census) was $70,621 (see here for census data). During the same interval the median home sale

Fall is a great time for shellfishing on Cape Cod. The water is still relatively warm and the weather, if you aren't in the middle of a Nor'Easter, is generally crisp and beautiful. A lot reopens in October and November so time to get the rake out of the shed and start digging. Each town has unique regulations and areas that are open and closed depending on the season. Check out the listings below for more details on your town. We also provide one or two suggestions of ou

With the 2019 hurricane season in full swing and the memory of the bizarre July Tornadoes still fresh in our minds, preparing for a storm should be a concern before winter hits. Late summer and fall hurricanes do pose serious concerns for the Cape, winter Nor'easters are often just as damaging with the additional possibility of freezing temperatures. To make sure you and your house are prepared to weather any storm here are some specific recommendations to consider. Lands

Check out these open houses on Cape Cod this weekend. If you are interested in any of these homes or to learn more about any other homes for sale on the Cape, contact us today. Chatelain Real Estate agents are known for the excellent quality of service and professionalism they offer their clients and would love to help you find your dream home on Cape Cod. Saturday 10-12 | 37 Uncle Stephens Road, West Dennis A classic Cape Cod dune shack located directly on Nantucket Sound.

July Review: Compared to this time last year, July saw only slight variation in four of the six metrics we investigate for this blog (pictured at right). Days on market was up significantly compared to this time last year; however it was down compared to June. Additionally the number of new listings was down nearly 15% compared to last year and lost about 9% compared to June this year. With all of this in mind we are seeing a normal decline in market activity due to the

Well. A tornado on Cape Cod is certainly not something we ever seriously considered. We are glad first and most importantly that there appear to be no serious injuries or deaths as a result of the storm. To make things easier, here is a list of resources that you can check for information regarding the storm repairs. Finally a heartfelt thank you to all of the first responders, linemen, and landscapers working overtime to get everything cleaned up. Last updated 7/24/19 10

June Review: Compared to this time last year median price and inventory are both up. However Inventory compared to May is a small gain of only 25 homes. It looks like the market entered the summer slow-down a bit earlier this year (usually it hits in July) with closed sales and new listings both down in June. Apparently sellers were already getting ready for the beach last month. The ever growing point of concern, not only on the Cape but nationally as well, is the afford

It's that time of year again! Check out our list of fun and free things to do on Cape Cod in the summer of 2019. Free Concerts Throughout the summer you can catch free outdoor concerts sponsored by the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod and TD Bank. Additionally here are a few more ideas from affordable-cape-cod-vacations.com. Not part of the Arts Foundation Series but always fun are the Brewster Town Band Performances at Drummer Boy Park. 6pm Sundays. Concerts sponsored by the S