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Listing Of The Week

Our favorite new listing of week, and not just because it is ours! 596 Commercial Street #1. This is a 2 bedroom 2 bath 1,085 square foot townhouse with an incredible water view deck off the master bedroom and is being marketed at $580K.

 

596 Com #4

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596 Comm

596 Com beach

 

 

 

 

 

MLS COPY: Water view townhouse with deeded beach access on Commercial St in a charming East End neighborhood. Updates in recent years include kitchen, bathrooms and flooring. 2 bedrooms and 2 full baths. Private balcony off the master with a nice water view. Washer and dryer in unit. 1 pet per unit is allowed and rentals of one month or longer are permitted. 1 off street parking space.

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New To Market In Provincetown – Perfect West End 2 Bedroom Plus Den

 46 Pleasant Street #A, Provincetown MA

Perfect in every way.  This West End condo has everything! 2 bedrooms and a 1 1/2 baths, along with a large den/family room  for entertainment or extra guests. This home has 1,070 square feet, and two great outdoor spaces, numerous upgrades, 2 parking spaces and a coveted location in the West End.

 

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The open floor plan is great for entertaining and light and bright with windows on 3 sides. The kitchen is newly renovated with granite counters, white cabinets and hardwood floors.  There is a full laundry in the renovated half bath directly off the kitchen. The living room has a gas fireplace and there is a separate dining area in the sunny northeast corner of the house.

 

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fireplace and stairs

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There are two great outdoor spaces including a large private fenced in deck in the back  of there condo for grilling and dining. There is plenty of room for relaxing and dining on the front deck and on the patio/garden too – and just enough garden for satisfying a green thumb.

 

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There are two bedrooms upstairs along with a full bath which has just been beautifully renovated. Both bedrooms are good size and sunny.

 

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On the lower level is a den-family room that is perfect for additional guests with room enough for a large sitting area and sleeping area.

The association is small and well managed with low condo fees. There is central heat and air provided by four split systems. There are two parking spaces directly in front of the condo.  This property  has an excellent rental history with many repeat renters. Best of all is the location – just 1 1/2 blocks from Commercial Street in what many consider the most desirable residential neighborhood in the West End.

 

We are thrilled to be offering 46 Pleasant Street to the market for $595,000.

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$459K On The Cape

I  love Curbed Boston/Cape Cod “comparison” posts. While our business is focused mostly in Provincetown and Truro it’s always interesting to see whats happening “up Cape”. There are some terrific deals here.

What $459,000 Can Buy You Around Cape Co

 Jazmine Donaldson

It’s time once again for Curbed Comparisons, where we break down what you can get at the same price point, style or size in five different Cape and Islands neighborhoods. This week, listings for $459,000.

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Here now, 10 Cape Cod properties asking $459,000 – seasonal, year round, fixer uppers, turn-key, upside-down, a lakefront cottage, condos, and space for the in-laws – with a little something for everyone.

What $459K Can Buy Around Cape Cod
BOURNE
Kicking off in the village of Gray Gables with an updated 2BR, 1BA ranch across from the Cape Cod Canal. The 1,183 square footer was built in 1948 and is asking $459K.
95 JEFFERSON ROAD, BUZZARDS BAY, MA 02532
FALMOUTH
Here’s a Sippewissett townhouse with 3BR, 2.5BA in 1,611 square feet. The two-level unit was built in 1998 and asking $459K.
37 CARLSON LANE, FALMOUTH, MA 02540
SANDWICH
This 4BR, 3.5BA East Sandwich Cape comes with a first floor master, 1BR in-law, and multiple fireplaces. The 2,922 square footer hit the market in September looking for $479K and is now asking $459K.
5 RIDGEWOOD DRIVE, EAST SANDWICH, MA 02537
MASHPEE
Here’s another renovated 2BR, 1BA ranch, this one in the village of Popponesset with deeded rights to Popponesset Beach (say that fast, five times). The 1,128 square footer on .15 acres was built in 1960 and is asking $459K.
38 UNCLE EDWARDS ROAD, MASHPEE, MA 02649
CENTERVILLE
Behold, a “charming 1 bedroom, 1 bath cottage on 0.51 Ac. overlooking Wequaquet Lake.” The 512 square footer sits on .51 acres and features a private dock. The spread hit the market in 2011 looking for $595K, but three chops have brought the ask down to $459K.
107 HUCKINS NECK ROAD, CENTERVILLE, MA 02632
DENNIS
In Dennis Village, here’s a 3BD, 2BA “Adorable Story Book Half Cape With Distant Bay Views.” The 1,441 square footer on .57 acres last sold in 2008 for $440K and is now listed for $459K.
26 PACKET DRIVE, DENNIS, MA 02638
SOUTH YARMOUTH
“Overlooking the 7th and the 16th hole” in Par 11 Estates is this 1,668 square foot 3BD, 2BA ranch. Located on the appropriately named Driving Tee Circle, the renovated digs are yours for $459K.
106 DRIVING TEE CIRCLE, SOUTH YARMOUTH, MA 02664
CHATHAM
Look, a ranch! Built in 1982, this 3BR, 2BA on .3 acres is “tucked back off the road” and features central air. Yours for $459K.
192 ORLEANS ROAD, NORTH CHATHAM, MA 02650
ORLEANS
The brokerbabble starts off by calling this property “unique” and we couldn’t agree more. Built in 1950, this 4BR, 3BA saltbox-and-then-some sits on 1.14 acres on the fun sounding Frost Fish Lane and is yours for $459K.
15 FROST FISH LANE, ORLEANS, MA 02653
TRURO
Finally, to a 3BR, 2BA upside-down contemporary with multiple decks and natural landscaping “so you can spend more time relaxing and enjoying this wonderful retreat without upkeep.” The 1,742 square footer on .81 acres hit the market in May 2013 for $479K, but is now yours for $459K.
9 GLACIER DRIVE, TRURO, MA 02631

 

 

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High End, High Tide – The Two Most Expensive Listings In Provincetown

Not surprisingly the most expensive condo and single family property available in Provincetown are on the water.

February 7, 2014

There are 5 condos on the market in Provincetown with list prices over $1M.

The most expensive is a gorgeous waterfront condo  at 67 Commercial Street #4 offered at $1.899M.  This is a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo with 969 sf which is quite literally on the water, as you can see from the pictures below.  It is located in one of the most desirable neighborhoods too! That enviable stretch of Commercial Street from Franklin Street west to the Red Inn.

 

67 C

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67 Commercial 4

Following is a description direct form Cape and Islands MLS. Quintessential, waterfront, West End free standing 2 bedroom, 2 bath Cape home with spectacular views of the harbor & Long Point. This luxury home has been completely rebuilt with contemporary finishes yet true to its Cape roots. The main living area has wide plank Scandinavian bleached white oak floors, bead board wainscoting & ceiling & a glass door that opens to a private waterfront deck. Kitchen features custom modernist shaker cabinets with a resin pebble backsplash, a Sub Zero refrigerator & Miele appliances. On the second floor you will find the master bedroom with cathedral ceiling, private deck & a spacious en suite bath. The guest bedroom also has a cathedral ceiling and oculus window. Both the baths have river stone tiled showers with Waterworks nickel fixtures & custom glass enclosures. There is off site deeded parking for 2

There are 30 single family homes available with listing prices over $1M – fully 63 % of the 48 single family homes that are available. 

The most expensive single family offering is at 10 Harbour Drive. It is a 5 bedroom, 6 bath home with 4,233 square feet and is being offered at $3.995M. As you can see from the pictures beow and the MLS copy attached it is an exceptional property.

 

10 Harbour 3

10 Harbour 2

10 Harbour

10 Harbour 4
Following is a description direct from Cape and Islands MLS. Experience beachfront living with unparalleled privacy at Provincetown’s newest waterfront community. This newly built spectacular home at Bay Harbour is the largest waterfront home for sale in Provincetown, with over 4000 SF, 5 BR’s and 6 BA’s. Custom chef’s kitchen with WOLF and Subzero appliances. The view pours into the vast living room through the floor to ceiling wrap-around windows. A sumptuous master suite also faces the water and has a private deck,gas FP, WIC,and large bathroom with jacuzzi, steam shower. All bedrooms & the den have ensuite baths. Security, AC, lush grounds, basement, and 2 car garage.
Both are lovely properties and represent the luxury market in Provincetown beautifully.

 

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Condos Soar

Its always interesting to hear mixed reactions to condos, as our “local” markets, downtown Boston and Provincetown are very condo centric. A good statewide perspective though.

Condos soar as home sales stumble

Posted by Scott Van Voorhis
Are buyers turning to condos as they find themselves on the losing end of soaring single-family home prices?

It happened during the bubble years and in previous booms as well. And it looks like it may be happening again given the latest Massachusetts sales stats out this morning

Bay State condo sales jumped more than 15 percent in December compared to the year before, even as home sales slid –  by just under a percent –  for the fewest sales since April,The Warren Group reports.

Yet even as home sales faltered, home prices rose yet again in December amid a dearth of listings for buyers to look at, with the median price hitting $320,000, a 6.3 percent jump over 2012 and an increase over this November as well, the Massachusetts Association of Realtors finds.

And despite the stagnant sales numbers, demand still appears to be relatively strong, with the drop in sales driven by the sparse choices in the market as much as anything else.

Even as home sales stagnated in December, average days on market dropped to 99 days, down from 130 in December 2012, according to MAR.

By contrast, condo prices look a little more reasonable, though that window appears to be closing as well.

The median condo price rose 8 percent in December, to more than $305,000, MAR reports. The median condo price for all of 2013 – $300,000 – was the highest since 2004.

While generally less expensive, condos have the perception as being a riskier bet than singe-family homes. There’s more price volatility with condos the poster child, at least in New England, of the devastating early-1990s real estate collapse.

Many of those who snapped up condos during the greed-is-good 80s were stuck with them for years, unable to sell, period, let alone settling for a loss.

Developers during those heady boom times got the very dangerous idea they could turn any old building anywhere into overpriced condos and stuff their pockets with easy profits.

Bad bets include the downtown Haverhill condo next to a car dealership that one of my former newspaper colleagues was stuck with from his bachelor days.

He wound up renting it after he got married and bought a house – he may very well still be sitting on it, though I suspect he finally found a way to unload during the bubble years, circa 2003-2006.

Ready to go condo? Homes too expensive for you now?

 

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Goode & Farmer Report – Provincetown, Truro and Wellfleet Year End 2013

Goode & Farmer Report – Provincetown Truro and Wellfleet Year End 2013

Well, we all thought 2012 was a year filled with trepidation and anxiety. That was before we experienced 2013 – the year of the government shutdown, the Boston Marathon bombings, Washington DC gridlock and numerous other international diversions.

While not a record breaker relative to last year, 2013 was in fact a very strong year on the Outer Cape. Nationally, one of the biggest news stories was improving real estate markets as supported by the S&P Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index showing home prices up 13.61% over last year – the largest gain in almost 8 years.

The strength of our local market is important as it has created equity for homeowners, boosted buyer confidence, and pulled many underwater homeowners into positive equity positions. Year-end results again seem to have surpassed what many in the industry expected. Total sales in Provincetown were down 12% from 229 units in 2012 to 201 units in 2013. Total volume closed was up 4% from $127M to $132M in 2013.

There were 124 condominium sales in 2013 totaling $56M vs. 166 condo sales in 2012 totaling $70M – a decrease of 25%. The average sale price for condominiums in Provincetown was up 8% over 2012 to an average sale price of $453K. The time on market for condos decreased by an average of 33 days this year. The average price per square foot for condos sold was $526.

Single-family home sales in Provincetown remained strong with 48 sales in 2013 totaling $49M vs. 52 sales for $47M in volume in 2012 – a 5% increase in volume. The average sale price for a single-family home was up 12% to an average sale price of $1.024M.

Provincetown leads the way on the Cape for positive real estate news and tends to follow the key downtown Boston neighborhoods in performance stats more than other towns on the Cape. Provincetown continues to attract buyers from cities and towns around the country and international buyers who have visited over the years that now want to have a home here on the Outer Cape.

This market dynamic continues to build the case for spring 2014 being another historically opportune time for those sellers who have been waiting on the sidelines to put their property on the market. This strong demand for Provincetown real estate by more confident buyers just may be the highest in many years.

 

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Other towns on the Outer Cape did relatively well too. The number of single-family sales in Truro was down a moderate 9% to 48 from 53 in 2012. The average sales price was down 15% to $594K from $698K last year. The Truro market consists mostly of single-family homes.

In Wellfleet, the average sales price of single-family properties sold increased slightly to $536K from $532K last year. The number of sales decreased by 13% to 70 from 80 in 2012. Wellfleet is predominantly a single-family sales market as well.

 

TRURO WELLFLEET chart

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A very active real estate market is indeed back – along with improving prices! And nowhere is this more evident than in continued buyer confidence in Provincetown and the Outer Cape.

Buyers do need more choices though as inventory remains low. Positive buyer and seller attitudes coupled with a continuation of relatively low mortgage rates and an improving economy bode well for 2014 being a great year to jump in the market and own a piece of paradise.

Please call or stop in if you are considering selling or buying, or if you are just curious as to what your home is worth. Our business philosophy has always been that the best-informed buyers and sellers are most satisfied with their real estate results. And that’s what we do best!

 

 

 

 

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Commercial Street Redo

WOW!!!!  This is what was going on outside our office yesterday.  Construction is happening in earnest.  Digging up the street, laying down a deep layer of gravel and prepping for the first layer of asphalt. They have been preparing for weeks redoing drainage and installing new granite curbs.

YESTERDAY!

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View from the office

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THIS MORNING!

Had to get to the office this morning by walking the beach and climbing over the porch railings – there was no way I could come in the front on Commercial Street.

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THIS AFTERNOON! 

What a difference.  The worst is over.  The picture on the right shows the crews moving down from Pleasant Street towards Whorf’s Court and the Coast Guard Station.

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A great improvement as many of you have seen how terrific downtown Commercial Street looks (once the pavement is in).

Wishing everyone a great Thanksgiving!

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Buying Second Homes – What To Consider

Good general guidelines from the KCM Blog crew to keep in mind.

What to Consider When Buying a Second Home

by MARK SCHEETS

Today we are happy to have Mark Scheets, a writer for Total Mortgage Services, as our guest blogger. – The KCM Crew

Sooner or later you may reach a point in your life where you are financially stable and plan to purchase a second home.  For the most part, people who look to buy a second home are either looking at it as an investment or somewhere to vacation.  It is important to become familiar with the process when looking for and making the decision to purchase a second home.

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Purchasing a second home is similar to the purchase of your first home, but there are also some important differences that you may not be aware of.  Two of the most important things to consider when buying a second home are to know what you’re looking for and how much you can spend before beginning the process.

When considering buying a second home, timing is a big aspect of the purchasing decision.  If you are in the middle of your career or ready to retire, you need to ask yourself what is the point of buying a second home.  Many homeowners will ask themselves “Do I want to use this home as a personal retreat or as a rental property?” Another question often asked is “Can I afford this?”  You may have to wait 6 months or a year, but having a good understanding of the current market and knowing when you are planning on making the purchase, will get you what you want.

Get Help

One step that will benefit you when looking for a home, is hiring an agent.  Most people find their agents through friends, family members or colleagues.  The agent’s job and expertise is in helping guide you down the correct path and being there to answer whatever questions you may have.

Do Your Research

Your second home can be whatever you want it to be, but one thing to keep in mind is that the location and property need to be a good fit with your current lifestyle.  A good idea for buying an investment property is to make sure that it is somewhat near your current home, in order to be close to it in case of an emergency.  When considering a vacation home, especially one that is far away, it is a good idea to talk to the locals who live there to get their prospective on the area.  This is important because you will not be at the house year round; and you need to see yourself enjoying living there.

Whether you have planned to purchase a second home for years, or have finally started considering it, it is extremely important to make sure all of your finances are in order.  It is a good idea to know exactly what is needed financially to get your plan into motion.   When applying for a second mortgage, there will be stricter lending and mortgage requirements, especially if you will not be living in that home.

Be Prepared

Another aspect to take into consideration is your taxes, which will be based on the use of your second home.  The IRS has declared “if you live in your home for more than 14 days, or more than 10% of the time you rent it out in a year, then it is considered your personal residence”.  If these conditions are not met, your home will be considered a rental property and you must report all rental receipts as income.

When the time comes to finally figuring out how to purchase your home, weighing your options are important.  It’s good to know that buying an existing home is far cheaper than buying land and building.  Many people with second homes have made financial mistakes with their home and are looking to sell quickly to cut their losses and move on.  This fact could help a buyer if the house is similar to what they are looking for, as it can be had for a cheaper price.

A mortgage on a second home will have a higher interest rate than one on a first home.  It might be a good idea to consider a home equity line of credit (HELOC).  A HELOC allows the buyer to tap into their existing home’s equity so that you can provide a bigger down payment.

Protect Yourself

If the time ever comes where you decide you would like a second home, make sure that you do your research.  Being aware of what you are getting into is always smart before diving in.  There are various differences between the ownership of a primary home compared to a secondary home and knowing these differences will help out immensely.  However you decide to use it, those who pursue the ownership of a second home will have to take extra precautions in protecting their investment.

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$500K In Provincetown

Here are are few of my favorites that are available in Provincetown for close to $500K.

12 Atwood Ave #212 Atwood Ave #2. $535K, 1/1, 696 sf. A quintessential West End cottage, 12 Atwood Avenue is a charming wood-frame home set back from a private unpaved lane behind a flower-covered white picket fence. With 696 square feet of living space, this one bedroom, two-story cottage is the ultimate Provincetown retreat. The living room is at the front of the cottage and has an oversized wood-burning fireplace. There is a dining room/den next to the kitchen in the rear of the first floor. The entire second floor is a large bedroom and bath with multiple windows with wonderful sight lines to lovely Atwood Avenue. There is a bright private garden.

 

 

 

45 Commercial St #845 Commercial St #8, $499K, 2/2, 555 sf. This condo is in the Jones Locker complex on the water in the West End.  There is a large common deck to enjoy the sun and the bay. This spacious first floor 2 bed room and 2 full bath unit make a great second home and/or rental (approx. income for 2010 $32,000.00) Lots of windows and a peak of the water from the living room. Assigned Deeded off-site parking for one car.

 

 

 

 

 

49 Bradford St #1149 Bradford St 311. $509K, 2/1, 650 sf Ideal West End Location! Just a 2-minute walk to Commercial St in the West End near the Boatslip, this lovely freestanding, 2-level home offers an open floor plan with living/dining/kitchen, screened porch and full bath on the 1st level and master bedroom with slider to deck and 2nd bedroom on the 2nd level. Wood floors, central air, common laundry, additional storage, parking. Condo fee includes heat. Great rental history!

 

 

 

42 Franklin St #B42 Franklin St #B. $489K, 1/1, 626 sf. Built in 2008, this freestanding two level cottage in Provincetown’s west end is lovely inside and out. Open floor plan on the first floor with stainless and granite kitchen, dining and living area with hardwood floors throughout. There is spiral staircase to second level with tiled bath, laundry and bedroom. Large closet with built-in’s, solid wood doors, blackout shades, and balcony off the bedroom. The outdoor space is superb with upper level dining area, outdoor shower, basement for lots of extra storage, and a custom hardscaped patio with stone walls and fire pit. This would be an excellent rental and ideal Provincetown get-a-way!

 

 

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Rock Bottom Rates Here To Stay

Good post by Scott below.

Up ahead: A frenzied fall for home buyers

Rock bottom interest rates are here to stay.

Posted by Scott Van Voorhis

 In case you missed it, good old Ben Bernanke just officially ditched any plans to scale back the the Fed’s multitrillion-dollar monetary manipulations that have kept interest rates at crazy lows.

The Fed chairman on Wednesday ended months of speculation that the central reserve bank is gearing up to scale back on its $40 billion a month purchase of mortgage-backed securities.

Concern that the Fed would start scaling back on this massive housing market stimulus, sparked earlier this year after some rather suggestive remarks by Bernanke, sent interest rates edging upwards, reaching into the mid 4s after having fallen to the low 3s.

That’s all history now, though. In fact, Bernanke doesn’t see any change in what is effectively the Fed’s home buyer subsidy program until 2016.

If you are out hunting for a house right now, you probably already know why this is big news, but I will spell it out anyway.

All those record low rates in the 3 percent range represent a massive government subsidy for home buyers, helping cut the cost of a monthly payment by as much as a third, at least compared to more traditional rates in the 7 and 8 percent range.

Yet there is a dark side to these crazy low interests – rising home prices.

By continuing to keep the pedal pressed to the metal, the Fed has effectively given a huge jolt of caffeine to a housing market that was already still fairly hot, if moderating a bit.

That means more bidding wars for scarce properties and another big boost for home prices.

As if Greater Boston needed that.