Tag: Cape Cod condo sales

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$1M Sales In Provincetown

67 Bayberry Ave SOLD $1.05M

The $1M and above market in Provincetown has been relatively active this season. The above $1M price range is from $1M to a high of $4.75M. Of the 136 properties (single family, Multi-family and condos)  that have sold YTD in 2012, 8 have sold above $1M, and they were all single family properties. These 8 property sales equals 5% of total unit sales year to date.

There are 218 properties (singles, multis, and condos) for sale in Provincetown of which 55 are  priced above $1M, which represents 25% of the total. 

5% of sales, 25% of the available properties for sale…  it is crowded! For buyers in this price range there are plenty of properties to look at for price and amenity comparison. Currently there are 5 properties under contract with asking prices above $1M. I will profile these once they close.

Below are descriptions of the properties that have sold over $1M year to date. Once again a caveat. I took the descriptions straight from MLS, so errors in syntax and grammar are out of my hands.

67 Bayberry Ave SOLD $1.05M

67 Bayberry Ave, a contemporary home, impeccably maintained, this home is bright and airy, white washed in a soft colors, and is ideal for entertaining with an open plan along with 3 bedrooms. Enter through glass doors to a spacious living room with fireplace, a kitchen & separate dining room that comfortably seats 10. The living room has two sets of atrium doors leading to a covered deck and large terrace. The kitchen has custom cabinetry, and limestone counter tops. There is a guest room with deck on this level with full bath. Next level has an open den, and mb suite with separate bedroom and sitting room with fireplace, bath and deck. The 3rd bedroom is on this level with another bath. Up one more level is an intimate sun room with 3 decks.

 

 

 

510 Commercial St SOLD $1.05M

510 Commercial Street is a lovely single family home with water views. The 1st floor has a spacious living room with fireplace, generously sized dining room, recently renovated kitchen, laundry area and full bath. There is also an adjoining one bedroom, one bath apartment with exclusive outdoor space, perfect for guests. Upstairs there are two master bedrooms with ensuite baths, one of which has direct water views. A second guest room with water views and full bath complete this level. The home is well set back from Commercial St allowing for a spacious front yard and privately situated side yard with patio. Driveway parking for 3 cars in tandem.

 

 

 

 

3 Atlantic Ave SOLD $1.065M

3 Atlantic Ave. Very few people have enjoyed the pleasure of owning this West End historic home. One of Provincetown’s oldest homes, dating back to the 1700’s, this A+ quality recent restoration makes this pristine home an exceptionally rare opportunity. The original architectural details have been painstakingly preserved side-by-side with the highest quality contemporary fixtures, appliances, systems, windows, doors, and more. The value is further magnified by both the central location-steps from the beach-and the generous enclosed yard space for parking, entertaining and gardening. The current owners have taken extreme care to bring this three-quarter Cape style home into the 21st century with a great deal of love and attention.

 

 

 

19 Berry Lane SOLD $1.093

19 Berry Lane.  Steps from the Beach and Views from Every Room! Here is Your Opportunity to Own a Custom Built Provincetown Home in the Quiet East End. From the Moment you enter the Foyer you will feel a sense of peace and serenity. The Living Room has Custom Stained Glass Windows from an old N.H. Church (easily removed, decorative only), hardwood floors and balcony access. The 2 Story Family Room offers a solid wall of windows, designed to maximize the expansive views,Brick fireplace with Bluestone Hearth and accent wall. Watch the Harbor lights from the Dining Room. Entertaining is a breeze in this Spacious, light filled Kitchen! Upstairs you’ll find the Owner’s Suite with Spa Quality Bathroom and the Guest Wing with 2 Bedrooms with views. Full Daylight BSMT also w/ views, 2 car garage.

 

 

 

9 W Vine St SOLD $1.2M

9 West Vine Street. Completely renovated 5 bedroom 4 bath home located in the heart of the West End. There is a spacious living room, dining area and kitchen on the first floor which opens to a blue stone patio and fenced in yard. The kitchen features a large center island, granite countertops, a farm sink & marble backsplash. There is a master bedroom suite with a private tiled bath and separate entrance, a second bedroom and tiled bath on the first floor. The second floor features a second living or family room with gas fireplace, in addition to an office, three more bedrooms. Stained pine & fir flooring in all living areas, Laundry room, ample closet space, an unfinished attic, outdoor shower, & 2 car parking.

 

 

 

 

525 Commercial St SOLD $1.25M

525 Commercial Street. Funky East End bay front home with multiple personalities. The original structure appears to be a marine related or mercantile structure dating from pre-1800 and is now known as the Not So Great Room with soaring 2 story ceiling and original folk art found object installation by Jackson Lambert. A 20th century addition is a large sunken living room with brick fireplace, wood floors and bay windows facing Commercial St and the bay. The most recent custodians of this gem added a contemporary solarium and deck on the bay and updated the kitchen and second floor bath a few years ago. Estate sale. Offers are subject to estate obtaining a license to sell from probate court. Town sewer outstanding betterment of only $2,295.41, to follow deed

 

 

 

 

107 Commercial St SOLD $1.6M

107 Commercial Street. There are only 15 single family waterfront homes in the west end – not since 2004 has one come to the market below $2M. Don’t miss this opportunity to purchase the perfect beach house in the perfect location that usually exists in dreams. This charming 3-BD, 2-BA waterfront home enjoys great privacy and spectacular views. 1st floor has an open floor plan, exposed beams, wood-burning stove and fireplace (not in working order), with sliders leading to front and side yards and large waterfront deck with steps to the beach. Also on this level are a full bath and laundry. The 2nd level has 2 waterfront bedrooms with sliders to a common deck with ladder to rooftop deck. There is also a 3rd BD and BA on this level. 3-car parking, Sewer Connection.

 

 

 

 

6 Winston Ave SOLD $1.8M

6 Winston Ave. Spectacular Waterfront Home with breathtaking views of Cape Cod Bay from almost every room. Talk about inspiration and beauty! There are 4 bedrooms in this magnificent home with the master on the second floor, gas fireplace, dazzling views of the water, a large elegant master bath, and a door leading to your private deck overlooking the water. Another bedroom shares those same views and deck, along with a full bathroom that separates the second and third bedrooms upstairs. First floor is full of light with a virtual wall of sliders that open to an expansive deck for your sunny enjoyment and relaxation. A large stunning kitchen with Granite counter tops, a first floor bedroom or office and a new artist studio with more gorgeous views of the water. Offered at $2,350,000.

 

 

 

This is an interesting blend of East End, West End, and downtown properties. My favorites are 3 Atlantic as it is in the near east end on Atlantic and Commercial and just smack in the middle of things on one of the most special streets in town. 107 Commercial is a favorite as it is one of those special properties right around the bend from the Coast Guard Station in the west end that is the epitome of casual downtown beachfront  living… everyone who walks by it says…”I wish I owned that house.”

*Data is for single families, multi families and condos only sold from 1/1/12 to 8/31/12. There are some additional properties for sale in Provincetown like hotel/motels, and commercial properties which I do not generally include in my analysis of residential sales. All data from Cape Cod and Islands MLS.


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More Evidence That Home Prices Have Hit Bottom.

Great article in the WSJ. Nick Timiraos does a great job in putting things in perspective.

By Nick Timiraos of The Wall Street Journal

In each of the last three years, home prices have increased in the spring and summer, when more people are buying homes, before giving back all of those gains and then some in the fall and winter, when activity cools.

But it is beginning to look like that might not happen this year, absent a major stumble for the economy.

Home prices in July were up by 3.8% from one year ago, the largest year-over-year jump in six years. Moreover, prices have shot up by 9.6% from February, when they registered their lowest levels of the housing downturn, according to CoreLogic CLGX +0.40% data released Tuesday.

This adds evidence to the case that U.S. home prices may have hit bottom earlier this year. Even though prices will soften in the autumn, “we have a much better supply and demand dynamic” than in previous years, said Mark Fleming, chief economist at CoreLogic.

So when people say they believe home prices haven’t reached a bottom—that this year’s seasonal gains will be wiped away by January or February of next year—here’s the relevant question: Will home prices fall by 9.6% in the next six months?

Anything, of course, is possible. Home prices fell in the winter—what Mr. Fleming calls the “offseason”—in each of the last three years to record a new low. But they have not fallen by 9.6% in any six-month span since March 2009, which was when the U.S. economy was still in recession.

That’s the good news. Here’s the bad news: While the year-over-year comparisons look good right now, the economy—and workers’ wages—aren’t growing fast enough to justify this kind of increase on a sustained basis.

Instead, the snapback in home prices in the last six months is more an indication of how prices “over-shot” over the past year. Investors, sensing deals, began buying up homes. The most likely scenario for home prices over the next year is that they may rise, but not at the breakneck pace of the past few months (and they’ll fall on a relative basis in the coming months due to normal seasonal factors).

There are other serious headwinds. It’s still hard to get a mortgage, and many households have too much debt. Millions of homeowners owe more than their homes are worth. Millions more have enough equity to sell their house but not enough to make a down payment on their next house and pay a real-estate broker’s commission.

As we’ve written many times before, the strong rise in home prices this year owes as much to sharp declines in inventory as it does to demand-side improvement. Banks have been much slower to take back and list foreclosed properties, easing pressure on home prices but leaving a bloated “shadow inventory” of potential foreclosures.

These homes will weigh on markets for years, though there’s less evidence that they will be dumped on the market at once. While the shadow inventory may not lead to a big drop in prices that some have feared, it will probably keep a lid on future home-price gains.

Finally, lower mortgage rates have dramatically increased the purchasing power of today’s home buyers when compared to one year ago. Some real-estate executives are nervous that demand isn’t stronger given today’s low mortgage rates, and they’re worried about what will happen if rates rise.

The bottom line: Don’t be surprised if the all-time low in home prices is in the rearview mirror. But this doesn’t mean a full-on recovery is here, and there’s little evidence that the current pace of improvement can continue. For now, home prices appear to be bumping along a bottom.

Follow Nick @NickTimiraos

 

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Condo Association Hints

We recently had a closing where the buyers had always owned single family homes and never a condominium, so didn’t have any idea of how Condo Associations worked. So…an HOA (home owners association) primer follows. Yes, condo documents are boring, association meeting notes are boring, budgets are boring… but get to know your new new homeowners association! Don’t be surprised by assessments, crazy leadership, unreasonable rules..get to know your HOA and then work with your HOA to make your property a better investment. Below is a great post from Inman News.

Inman News

Here are a few guidelines for buyers-to-be and new owners of condos and other properties in HOAs:

1. Read the HOA disclosures — thoroughly. When you get into contract on a home that is located within an HOA, you receive a bulky stack of documentation about the association. It can be a mind-numbing, eye-twitch-inducing pile of bank account statements, historical documents and legalese. However, these materials are uber-important, as they provide the details and contours of this new business and interpersonal relationship you are about to embark on with your neighbors.

Things like the HOA’s plans for ongoing maintenance and upgrades, the HOA budget, the cash they have in reserve — all these things have the potential to impact your household budget.

For example, if the building needs a new roof and there’s not enough cash to cover the costs, most HOAs have the power to levy a special assessment on each owner for their share of the cost! The fact that you own your place means you also own some share of the responsibility for the building. That’s what owning in an HOA is all about.

Additionally, as you’ve learned the hard way, there are loads of HOA guidelines that may impact your lifestyle and your plans for your home. I have received dozens and dozens of notes over the years from condo owners like yourself protesting HOA restrictions on everything from parking to pet size and even flooring material and paint colors! Yes, the place belongs to you, but when you buy into a condo you opt into following the guidelines the HOA has in place for ensuring every owner can enjoy their home and all can live in peace.

I suspect the fee of concern to you covers the management company’s processing of your plans for modifying your home to ensure their compliance with HOA and other guidelines.

The ideal here is to read these documents thoroughly as part of your decision-making about whether to buy the property while you still have time to back out of the transaction if you don’t want to be bound by the HOA’s strictures.

2. Read more casual HOA member documents. Along with the formal HOA disclosures, condo buyers often receive a set of more casual documents, including a copy of the building rules and regulations, and the community newsletters. In my experience, these documents can actually be even more telling than the formal ones in terms of previewing for you the daily experience of living in the community. Yes, you’re likely to see a fair amount of minutiae, like recipes and block party announcements.

But you’re also likely to see things like board meeting agendas with line items like discussions of whether to raise the HOA dues, and conversations about any concerning, large repairs that might need doing. If you haven’t read these documents yet, you should now, to prevent further nasty or costly surprises.

In the same vein, I encourage condo buyers and new owners to talk with the building manager about common complaints and community issues (including fee increases) that are on the horizon, as well as connecting with other homeowners in the building or complex about their experience and any surprise costs or unpleasant rules they have encountered.

3. Participate in your HOA. Read the agendas of your HOA’s board meetings before they happen, attend the meetings and even participate on your board if possible. HOA boards ultimately have the power to impose dues increases, select the accounting and insurance vendors whose work and fees are so critical to the costs of living in the community, and select the contractors who do major building and community upgrades and repairs.

If you have a very strong issue with fees or rules that are currently governing your experience as a homeowner, the best way to address them is to become a vocal, active participant in your HOA board.

 


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Cape Cod More Affordable

 

There was an interesting article in the Sunday Globe speaking to the fact that retirement housing, and housing in general on Cape Cod is more affordable after “seven down years in the real estate market have lowered prices to the point where owning a retirement home on Cape Cod is again an achievable dream for some baby boomers.”.

 

We are seeing variations of this in Provincetown as many  buyers are taking a solid look at their buying options after being on the fence for several years.  They feel better about the economic outlook. They feel that prices have moderated enough to warrant a second look, and they are seeing the benefits both financially and personally of buying a second home or transition to retirement home, and most of all buyers are honestly enjoying the personal adventure of looking for the home of their dreams in Provincetown and the Cape in general.

Below is the article by Globe correspondent Sarah Shemkus.

Massachusetts native Judy Watkins left the state more than 30 years ago, moving to Florida to escape the harsh New England winters.

Over the past few years, however, her thoughts have again turned northward. Approaching retirement, Watkins, now 67, started thinking about buying property on Cape Cod, where she could spend half the year enjoying the beaches, natural beauty, and people of her home state.

So she kept an eye on the market, watching as prices fell and options multiplied. Then, last month, she made her move, buying a two-bedroom, three-bath ranch home on a tree-ringed lot in East Falmouth for $185,000. The moment, she said, was right.

“This is absolutely, definitely the time to buy, for sure,” Watkins said

Cape Cod, with its relatively mild weather, low property taxes, and laid-back lifestyle, has long been a desirable destination for retirees.

During the real estate boom, however, even the coziest of cottages soared in price, effectively shutting many middle-income would-be buyers out of the market. Then, the economy crashed, leaving many people worried about their jobs and their investments, and disinclined to make a major real estate purchase.

Now however, seven down years in the real estate market have lowered prices to the point where owning a retirement home on Cape Cod is again an achievable dream for some baby boomers, according to financial planners and real estate agents.

“We see prices on the Cape are low and properties are starting to move again,” said Walter Herlihy, a financial planner with Beacon Financial Planning, which has offices and Centerville and Easton.

The median price for a single-family home in Barnstable county is now down to $320,000, from a high of $390,000 at the market peak, according to real estate data firm Warren Group. Prices in middle-market communities can be much lower, such as $239,000 in Bourne and $235,500 in Yarmouth, while the high-end communities remain more expensive. The median home price in Truro, for example, is $638,000, and in Chatham is $550,000.

A surge in homes for sale has helped bring prices down considerably. During the recession, many second-home owners concerned about their finances decided to sell their vacation properties. At the same time, rising foreclosure numbers meant more distressed and bank-owned homes were up for sale at depressed prices.

Furthermore, low interest rates have made it much easier for boomers to buy real estate. As recently as 2006, mortgage rates hovered near 6 percent; now a 30-year fixed rate is down to 3.55 percent. On a 30-year $300,000 mortgage, that’s a savings of about $450 a month.

“A lot of folks in that age bracket can remember the 12 to 18 percent rates of the late ’80s,” said Russ Pelletier, an agent with William Raveis Real Estate in Falmouth. “So a 3 percent mortgage now is almost looking like free.”

Potential buyers are, for the most part, also feeling more secure about their finances than they were a few years ago, during Wall Street’s more tumultuous period, financial planners report. Many experienced temporary losses during the worst of the Great Recession, but most have recovered and even made modest gains, Herlihy said.

“They’ve held on through the downturn and come out ahead of the game,” said Herlihy. “People are more confident than they were.”

However, while investors may be feeling more secure, they have not returned to the abandon that marked the peak of the real estate market, said David McPherson of Four Ponds Financial Planning in Falmouth and Hingham.

“Overall, many people are more cautious than they were five or six years ago,” he said.

Nonetheless, the combination of falling prices, low interest rates, and improving financial confidence has translated into a surge of sales activity, real estate agents report. Sales of single-family homes are up nearly 30 percent over last year, according to the Cape Cod and Islands Association of Realtors.

“People who have been on the fence, waiting to make that decision, they’ve become more active because they’ve realized prices have hit bottom,” Pelletier said

And most of those buyers, agents said, are people planning to turn a second home into a permanent residence once they retire.

“Three-quarters of the sales I’ve been involved in this year are people planning for their retirement,” said Marie Kelly, an agent with Realty Executives Cape Cod in Brewster. “They’re jumping in now on their retirement home.”

For Watkins, the buyer’s market helped convince her to commit to a property in her home state, rather than in Tennessee, the other destination she had considered. Though homes in Tennessee are less expensive than those on Cape Cod, falling prices and growing inventories made East Falmouth a viable choice, she said.

“There’s more for your money right now,” she said. “The Cape is just a great place to be.”

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Provincetown And Boston Gains Compared To Top 10 Metros

I always find it interesting to see the differences in home values across the country. In Boston and Provincetown we are in solid real estate markets with values substantially above the national average. In Boston, including all neighborhoods the median price of single family homes sold through Q2 was $364K, up 3% from last years $353K. In Provincetown the median sales price for a single family homes sold year to date through Q2 was $675K, up 15% from $586K  last year. (I don’t always use median prices for comparison but since this report does I wanted to compare apples to apples.) The post below illustrates pretty mediocre northeast performance compared to these gains we have seen in Boston and Provincetown.

See Inman post below.

Top 10 metros for median price gains

 

NAR: Prices up from a year ago in 110 of 147 metros

BY INMAN NEWS, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012.

Inman News

Median home prices for single-family homes posted year-over-year gains in 110 out of 147 markets tracked by the National Association of Realtors during the second quarter, compared with 74 markets that saw annual appreciation during the first quarter. Some of the improvement in prices is due to a smaller share of sales in low price ranges where inventory is tight said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun.

But Yun predicted even more markets would post gains in the quarters ahead, which will improve the equity position of existing homeowners, many of whom owe more on their mortgages than their home is worth.

At the national level, the median sale price of existing single-family homes during the second quarter was up 7.3 percent from a year ago, to $181,500. That’s the biggest annual increase in six years, but still left the national median home price down 20.1 percent from the 2006 peak.

Nearly 1 in 4 markets tracked by NAR (34) saw annual price declines. Seven of the 10 markets experiencing the biggest declines were in the Northeast.

The Northeast region saw median home prices fall 1.6 percent from a year ago, to $241,300.

Metropolitan area Median price, Q2 2011 Median price, Q2 2012 Change from year ago
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Conn.
$430,500
$374,900
-12.9%
Edison, N.J.
$328,600
$297,500
-9.5%
Gulfport-Biloxi, Miss.
$111,000
$100,600
-9.4%
Elmira, N.Y.
$115,200
$105,700
-8.2%
Atlantic City, N.J.
$237,000
$218,700
-7.7%
Pittsfield, Mass.
$197,100
$182,200
-7.6%
Charleston, W.Va.
$134,700
$126,700
-5.9%
Green Bay, Wis.
$137,800
$129,800
-5.8%
Manchester-Nashua, N.H.
$225,700
$212,700
-5.8%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, Conn.
$236,800
$226,300
-4.4%

 

Source: National Association of Realtors

Among markets seeing the strongest annual price appreciation, many experienced sharp declines at the beginning of the downturn, including Detroit, Phoenix and Fort Myers, Fla. In all but one of the 10 markets showing the biggest year-over-year gains, the median sales price was well below the national median.

Top 10 markets for median price gains

 

Metropolitan area Median price, Q2 2011 Median price, Q2 2012 Change from year ago
Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich
$46,600
$60,200
29.2%
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz.
$115,000
$148,400
29.0%
Boise City-Nampa, Idaho
$113,600
$138,200
21.7%
Florence, S.C.
$112,900
$136,100
20.5%
Akron, Ohio
$100,200
$116,700
16.5%
Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y.
$113,000
$131,600
16.5%
Bismarck, N.D.
$169,000
$194,000
14.8%
Cumberland, Md.-W.Va.
$89,500
$102,700
14.7%
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla.
$114,200
$130,700
14.4%
Peoria, Ill.
$114,800
$128,900
12.3%

 

Source: National Association of Realtors

Total existing-home sales including single-family and condos were down 0.7 percent from the first quarter to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.54 million, with distressed homes (foreclosures and short sales) accounting for 26 percent of transactions, down from 33 percent a year ago.

NAR estimates that first-time buyers, who historically have accounted for 40 percent of home purchases, purchased 34 percent of all homes in the second quarter, up from 33 percent during the first quarter but down from 35 percent a year ago.

Investors, who often pay cash and compete with first-time buyers, accounted for 19 percent of all purchases in the second quarter, down from 22 percent in the first quarter but about the same as a year ago. Some 29 percent of sales were “all cash,” down from 32 percent in the first quarter and 30 percent a year ago.

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Fresh Properties For Sale In Provincetown

262 A Bradford St $254K

From  a low of $254K to a high of$3.995M here are six of the 18 new properties that came on the market in the last two weeks in Provincetown. These properties represent some of the best of the new inventory. From small stand alone condos to fabulous waterfront homes, the diversity of properties for sale in Provincetown is well represented.

262 A Bradford St $254K

This adorable cottage condo is nestled in the woods in the east End. 300 square feet of charm! It has painted hardwood floors, new windows, and a washer dryer. Sliders open to a secluded stone patio. One block from the bay beach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 Georges Path #B $440K

The Georges Path complex is a bucolic little neighborhood out by Shankpainter Road and Cemetery Road.  It is a mix of 2 unit condo buildings on a sweet cul-de-sac with mature woodland surrounding it, yet only a ten minute walk to town. This 900 square foot, 2 bed, 1.5 bath condo in the Georges Path complex is being marketed for $400K. The main floor has an open plan with stainless appliances in the kitchen and new cabinets. Large sliders in the living room open to a private deck that looks out to mature gardens. The second floor has 2 bedrooms, a full bath and a washer/dryer. There are hardwood floors throughout and a full unfinished basement.

 

 

 

 

290-C Bradford St $469K

This single family home was built in 2009, and is a charmer inside and out. It is a 649 square foot 1 bed 2 bath home. The main living level has bamboo floors, lots of windows, bead board, birch cabinets, a gas fireplace, and a half bath. The second floor has a master suite. The outdoor space is superb with patio, decks and a covered porch. There are two bonus spaces in the attic and in the lower level basement area. It is in a sweet east End mini neighborhood right past the East End tennis courts. (Excuse the winter picture!)

 

 

 

12 Howland St #C, $489K

12 Howland Street #C is a well appointed freestanding cottage set back from the street. The cottage is approximately 844 square feet and lives like a single family home and is being marketed at $489K. . (We love this description in Provincetown as it does truly describe the benefits of this type pf condo cottage) The first floor features wide plank hardwood floors and separate living and dining rooms, a large bedroom, bathroom, and eat in kitchen with period cabinets and stainless steel appliances. There is a patio located off the kitchen. The second floor features a loft area with a full height bedroom and sitting area.

 

 

 

 

40 Pleasant St #1 $525K

This is a perfect Provincetown West End retreat, located 1.5 blocks from Commercial Street in one of the sweetest neighborhoods in town and is being marketed for $525,000. This 2 bedroom, 1 bath home was totally renovated in 2005 and has been gently used by second home owners and never rented. This property has hardwood floors throughout, granite and stainless kitchen, good sized bedrooms, and a lovely large fenced private yard with blue stone patio and professional landscaping. This is one of my favorites….it’s also one of our terrific listings!

 

 

 

 

 

73 Commercial St $3.995M

This fabulous waterfront home is on the market for the first time in 16 years and is priced at $3.995M. Beautifully renovated and restored, each level of this residence offers a feast for the eyes. Perched at the peak of the house, is the master suite with a beamed cathedral ceiling, ensuite bath and home office. On the second floor is the main living room with beamed ceilings, wonderful built-ins and a large bayside deck. There is also a guest bedroom and full bath on this level. The first floor has another guest bedroom with ensuite BA. The large eat-in kitchen with high end appliances opens onto a deck and the lush lawn and well tended gardens. This is a stunning property!

 

 

 

I have taken some of the descriptive copy for these properties from MLS and added some comments of my own. Hope you enjoy!

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Call It A Comeback?

Tara Steele is the News Director at AgentGenius, a terrific real estate blog, covering real estate news, technology news and everything in between. Below are excerpts of  one of her recent posts asking the questions:  Are lowering inventory levels good or bad for housing? Are reduced sales a good sign or not? Is housing recovering, or are these just signs of life? I have posted about the shrinking inventory levels and how this is pushing up demand and prices. It’s a great question to ask. While it is a positive development that inventory is being absorbed, especially foreclosures, the lack of good inventory which is required to to fuel a recovery is an issue.

Is it time to call it a comeback?

Housing has had some recent signs of health, causing a frenzy in traditional media outlets who are calling a comeback for housing, but is it too soon? When a coma patient who has been nearly beat to death opens one eye, no doctor would call the patient recovered, rather showing signs of hope for a potential recovery some day. As housing has been beaten to a pulp and opens one eye and two or three indicators show improvement, many are desperate to cling to hope that everything is recovered, but that just is not the case, and pushing that idea that everything has recovered is unhealthy for those looking for the recovery. Let’s just say that the moment anything backslides, the overly enthusiastic commentators and their following will feel slighted.

At AG, we are not calling it a comeback, in fact, you’ll see with the positive reports coming out of housing recently, we say as much in the first few lines, so that when good news is delivered, there is a huge “but” on the delivery.

Economist, Dr. Kolko weighs in

We have noted that while some economists are allowing themselves to get worked up by tiny signs of life, Dr. Jed Kolko, Chief Economist at Trulia.com agrees with us that the good news should be taken as part of the whole picture, not independently as a sign of recovery.

Yesterday, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that home prices have risen, but inventory is tight, explaining the lowered sales numbers.

Dr. Kolko agreed that the sales data reflects the tightening inventory, as it fell 24.4 percent year-over-year, telling AGBeat that “Although sales increased year-over-year, they’re only 35% of the way back to normal. The June sales level of 4.37m is much closer to the worst of the recession (3.77m in Nov 2008) than to its long-term normal level (5.5m).”

“The shrinking supply of foreclosed homes drives the drop in inventory and sales,” added Dr. Kolko. “The share of distressed-home sales fell from 30% one year ago to 25% in June. Sales of homes priced under $100,000 in the West – which includes lots of distressed homes — fell 36% year-over-year.”

Low inventory levels: good or bad?

Dr. Kolko notes that while inventory feels tight when compared to recent years, “it’s actually only slightly below normal levels. ‘Normal’ inventory is 2.5m, which is roughly 5-6 months of supply when sales are at their normal rate of 5.5m. Now, inventory is 2.39m, which is very near ‘normal’ but way below the elevated level of the past few years.”

Many are enthusiastic about inventory levels, but who does it benefit, and does it hurt anyone? Dr. Kolko said, “Tight inventory is good for some and bad for others. Tight inventory hurts buyers, helps sellers, and hurts real estate agents and others in the industry who depend on sales for their income.”

“Tight inventory is a necessary step on the road to recovery,” said Dr. Kolko. “As prices start to rise, buyers get impatient but sellers want to hold off. Longer-term, rising prices will encourage new construction and lift homeowners above water, both of which will bring more homes onto the market and increase inventory. But inventory has to shrink first before it expands.”

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Provincetown Core Condo Market Facts

23 Captain Berties Way, #3, sold for $437

I was doing a report for one of our sellers in the $400K to $600K range, the core of the condo market here in Provincetown and came up with an interesting fact.

I found that in the last twelve months 45 condos sold (3.75 per month) in this range and that there are currently 45 condos for sale in this price range. This illustrates a 12 month supply of inventory if properties sell at the same speed in the next twelve months as they did in the last twelve months. Just  a little coincidence to share with you along with a handful of properties that sold in this segment over the last 12 months.

23 Captain Berties Way, #3, sold for $43
4 Holway St #4, sold for $510K

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 Brewster St sold for $575K
22 Pearl St #1, sold for $466K.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

56 West Vine St, #C, sold for $565K
18 Miller Hill Road #10, sold for $450
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The Goode and Farmer Report – Provincetown Q2 Update

Sales through the 2Q in Provincetown continue to be strong! Growing economic optimism and continued low interest rate have kept buyers and sellers in the market, and almost more importantly, there is a great assortment of properties for sale.

Year-to-date condominium sales through the second quarter surged 28% from 54 sales last year to 69 sales this year. The average sales price of condos sold increased 11% to an average of $400K vs. $361K last year.

Single Family sales did more than surge – they exploded! We went from 14 sales last year to 27 sales through the second quarter. Even with this relatively small sampling, these represent very positive increases. The average sales price of single-family properties sold was $731K. The total sales volume of single-family homes sold was close to $20M – up 67% from last year’s volume of $11.8M.

These figures are evidence that the market has improved markedly year-over-year. More evidence of the market improvement can be seen in both the condo and single-family segments where the average days on market has decreased by 33% and 9% respectively. While we don’t look at days on market with quite the same importance as we do in Boston, DOM’s are a good indication that properties are selling faster and that the inventory of properties for sale is becoming leaner.

Speaking of inventory, as of July 14 there are 157 condominiums for sale in Provincetown, with an average price of $466K and an average price per square foot of $583. And the average days these remain on market is 246.

There are 77 single-family properties for sale with an average price of $1.441M with an average of 2,398 square feet.

We are in the midst of an incredible summer season here in town and this will surely add to the positive real estate news. The number of buyers and of sellers looking to market their properties for sale is up, indicating continued strength and excitement for real estate in our little fishing village.

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June Sales In Provincetown – 5 Of My Favorites

There are so many interesting properties here. In fact, almost every one is special. Down a dirt lane, up on a hill, built in the 1700’s, owned by a sea captain or a police chief, 195 square feet on the beach, a small stand-alone condo nestled in the woods – every turn you make and every open house you go to, something wonderful intrigues you about a property.

3 Atlantic Ave, $1.065M

 

3 Atlantic Avenue has always been one of my favorite houses in town.  This is one of the town’s oldest homes dating back to the 1700’s.  One lot in from Commercial Street with peeks of the bay, this charmer recently received a total renovation. The previous owners brought this three-quarter Cape back into the 21st century preserving the original architectural details and adding the highest quality contemporary fixtures. This incredible 1,604 square foot, 3 bed/2 bath home sold for $1.065M.

 

 

 

5 Creek Round Hill, $910K

 

5 Creek Round Hill Road is a large 2,592 square foot, 3 bed/3bath single-family home in the far West End with panoramic views of the Moors. Sited to maximize views and privacy this home has multiple decks, fireplaces, a sun room and a home gym. It also includes the adjacent lot of .295 acres. This property had been on the market for 262 days and sold for a very reasonable $910K.

 

 

 

3 Thistlemore, $575K

 

Another interesting single-family home sale was 3 Thistlemore Road.  This was a really well-priced, single-family home nestled in the wooded hills of the Somerset Heights neighborhood in the East End. This house has 3 bed/2 bath, a den, 1,967 square feet and a 20′ x 20′ rooftop deck with treetop and dune views. There is a master suite on the top floor with a sitting area, fireplace and a large master bath. The outdoor gardens have been lovingly planted with perennials and herb gardens and includes a garden shed. This property was updated in 1997. See what I mean? It was a great value at $575K. 

 

 

54 Harry Kemp Way $665K

 

There have been two interesting condominium sales so far this month. One was at 54 Harry Kemp Way in the White Pines complex and sold for $665K. This is a sought after group of condos – many have great farmer porches and some are stand-alone condos reading like single-family homes. This 3 bed/3 bath home has 2,500 square feet, four floors of living space including a large master suite, 2 guest bedrooms with central air and 2 parking spaces. Talk about value!

 

 

 

46 Pleasant St #D, $435K

 

46D Pleasant Street is a terrific 1,200 square foot,  2 bed/3 bath condo in the four-unit Pleasant View complex. This property provides privacy and seclusion from the street. Handsome cabinetry, wood flooring and a newly renovated bath add to this very comfortable and attractive space. The ground level has a spacious sitting room and a cedar- walled bathing-suite. (their words, not mine). It sold for $435K and was on the market for a relatively short 51 days.

You can see why these are my favorites of all the properties sold this month. I will report on all June sales at the end of the month.